HOWEY-IN-THE HILLS, FLa. - UT Dallas standout Karen Alvarez has been named the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2023 NCAA Division III Women's Golf Championships. Alvarez was recognized with the honor prior to her practice round at Mission Inn Resort & Club, the site for this year's national event.

A marketing major originally from Venezuela, Alvarez carries a 4.00 grade point average and was presented the award for the third consecutive season. She is just the 12th student-athlete to win the award three times and fourth in Division III across all sports.

Alvarez, who was named the American Southwest Conference Co-Golfer of the Year, was the individual medalist at the ASC Championship with a +8. She has won three tournaments this season with a 75.55 scoring average. Alvarez has also set the school record for rounds under par in season with five and has the second lowest scoring average in program history. She is Comets' career leader with nine tournament wins, 134 birdies, three eagles and a 76.86 scoring average. Alvarez has been on the All-ASC First Team three times.

The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.

Eligible student-athletes are sophomore academically or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to https://www.ncaa.com/elite-90.

The initial Elite 90 award for NCAA D-III women's golf was given to St. Benedict's Kathryn Hauff in 2009. Alvarez became the ninth honoree for NCAA D-III women's golf last spring and is the fourth multiple winner in the sport.

Alvarez became just the seventh student-athlete from the ASC to ever claim the award in 2021, the first in women's golf, and first to win three times in the league.

All-Time NCAA D-III Women's Golf Elite 90 Winners
2009-10 - Kathryn Hauff, St. Benedict
2010-11 - Melanie Walsh, Washington-St. Louis
2011-12 - Vanessa Kleckner, St. Olaf
2012-13 - Melanie Walsh, Washington-St. Louis
2013-14 - Rebecca Studin, Cortland State
2014-15 - Emily Haas, Stevenson
2015-16 - Emily Haas, Stevenson
2016-17- Lauren Anderson, Aurora
2017-18 - Anna Foley, DePauw
2018-19 - Lauren Anderson, Aurora
2019-20 - No award given
2020-21 - Karen Alvarez, UT Dallas
2021-22 - Karen Alvarez, UT Dallas
2022-23 - Karen Alvarez, UT Dallas