College golf has returned, which means the race to make the NCAA Championship is on. That means the stars of college golf are back on campus and battling it out for major awards, victories and more. It also means a new wave of talent has entered the fold and is ready to make its mark on college golf.
There are always talented freshmen who enter the college golf ranks and become a force right away. Look no further than last year, like when Oregon’s Kiara Romero won her first college start, or Arkansas’ Maria Jose Marin had a record win or Stanford’s Paula Martin Sampedro led the Cardinal to another national title. Now, it’s time to meet the next wave of youngsters in college golf.
Here’s a look at 10 women’s freshmen to watch during the 2024-25 season.
Vanessa Borovilos, Texas A&M
Vanessa Borovilos plays her tee shot on the fourth hole during the round of 16 of the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Chris Keane/USGA)
No. 3 junior golfer and No. 1 out of Canada in the class of 2024, according to the American Junior Golf Association. Borovilos made the quarterfinals of the 2024 U.S. Girls’ Junior.
Francesca Fiorellini, UCLA
Francesca Fiorellini of Italy reacts on the second green during the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club on April 06, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Fiorellini arrives at UCLA as the top-ranked Italian, ninth-ranked European and 24th-ranked amateur in the world. Her amateur career was highlighted by team victories in 2023 at the Junior Ryder Cup, Junior Solheim Cup, and Patsy Hankins Trophy.
Jasmine Koo, USC
Jasmine Koo watches her tee shot on hole 12 during a practice round of the 2024 Curtis Cup at Sunningdale Golf Club in Sunningdale, England on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. (Chris Keane/USGA)
Koo from Cerritos, California, and a graduate of Cerritos High School, was the third-ranked Girls Junior according to the American Junior Golf Association. She recently competed for the United States in the Curtis Cup and is ranked fifth in WAGR.
Elise Lee, Northwestern
Elise Lee of the United States plays her shot from the third tee during the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Club on May 19, 2024 in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Lee is a 2022 Rolex Junior All-American, 2021 Toyota Tour Cup Player of the Year, four-time First Team All-Empire League selection, and won three Empire League titles.
Nellie Ong, Ohio State
Nellie Ong. (Photo: England Golf)
Ong was selected to the 2023-24 England Women’s National Team. At her high school, she was named Golfer of the Year twice and won the Welsh Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship.
Meja Ortengren, Stanford
Meja Ortengren of team Europe plays a shot during the Day Three of the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 28, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Ranked ninth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Ortengren has participated in the Junior Ryder Cup, Junior Solheim Cup, and is expected to be an early contributor at Stanford.
Andrea Revuelta, Stanford
Andrea Revuelta plays her second shot on the fifth hole during the second round of stroke play of the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Kathryn Riley/USGA)
Another member of Stanford’s top-ranked signing class, Revuelta is 22nd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. From Madrid, she is also expected to have major contributions early for the Cardinal.
Nora Sundberg, Stanford
Nora Sundberg of Sweden walks from the first tee during the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club on April 06, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Not one, not two, but three Stanford players on this list. Sundberg, also from Sweden, has participated in the Junior Ryder Cup and made the cut at the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Rocio Tejedo, LSU
Rocio Tejedo of team Europe plays a shot during Day Two of the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup at Golf Nazionale on September 27, 2023 in Viterbo, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Ranked as high as 12th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Over the last two years, Tejedo has five wins and 14 top-10 finishes
Denisa Vodickova, Wake Forest
Denisa Vodickova. (Photo: CPKC Women’s Open)
Vodickova has represented both the girls and ladies national teams for the Czech Republic, also playing on the 2022 and 2023 World Amateur Team Championship squads. She was on the winning 2021 and 2023 European teams at the Ping Junior Solheim Cup, with a match play record of 5-1.
