Women's Golf: A breakdown of the Division I college season

ByBrice Odel

5 min read

Women's Golf: A breakdown of the Division I college season

The Spring of 2021 was filled with controversy in the women's golf world. The Baton Rouge regional golf tournament was cancelled as the NCAA deemed the course, "not playable at a championship level." The course received a fair amount of rain over the week and decided against rescheduling or relocating

Instead, without a single shot taken, LSU, Ole Miss, Oregon, Maryland, Baylor, and Alabama advanced. This decision ended numerous college careers and frankly put a bad taste in many golf fan's mouths. But I am optimistic that we can put this horrendous ruling behind us and enjoy the wonderful golf that lies ahead.

After all, women's division 1 golf is littered with a ton of talent. Here is what to expect this season:


Stanford is going to be really, really good.

The Cardinal return everybody but Ziyi Wang. Among those returning is Sophomore sensation and Preseason All-American Rachel Heck. Heck finished her freshman season with victories at the Pac-12 Championship, NCAA Stanford Regional, and the NCAA National Championship. The scary part for the rest of the country is that she may not be the best player on the team. The Cardinal bring in one of the best recruits golf has seen in quite some time. Incoming freshman, Rose Zhang, will find her place in this Stanford lineup rather quickly. Zhang enters the season as the top ranked amateur in the world ahead of teammate Heck and became the first to win both the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. Pair these two with fellow teammate and first team All-American Angelina Ye and Palo Alto can start buzzing.

Ole Miss isn't going anywhere either.

The defending champs are here to defend the crown. The Rebels lost just one member from their championship winning team and added more depth in the form of freshman Natacha Host. Host won twice over the summer in Denmark and will fit nicely into the backend of an abundantly talented roster.

Arizona State returns one of their winningest stars.

Linn Grant of Arizona State won four times last spring and will return this fall as one of the best in the country. Unfortunately for the Sun Devils, she will likely be turning pro next spring after finding herself exempt to stage 2 of the LPGA Q-School. Her team is filled with talented individuals but her absence will be a lot to overcome.

One other California school could make a run.

UCLA houses maybe the only other golfer in the PAC 12 with a chance to dethrone the three headed dragon at Stanford. Emma Spitz won a regional title and was NCAA runner-up last season. She took home the Austrian Women's Stroke Play Championship this Summer and is poised for another run with the Bruins this fall.


Top programs around the country get to see some amazing courses during the 2021-22 season. The Barbara Nicklaus Cup will be an exciting tournament to watch as Muirfield Village Golf Club plays host. The East Lake Cup which was won by the eventual champs on both the men's and women's side last season will be at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. East Lake is home to the PGA Tour Championship and provides a fun chance for colleges to showcase their ability. I am most excited to see the top teams and individuals return to beautiful Greyhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale and battle it our for a championship.

Team Power Rankings:                                                                                                            1. Stanford                                                                                                                                  2. Ole Miss                                                                                                                                  3. Duke                                                                                                                                        4. Wake Forest                                                                                                                            5. LSU

Individual Power Rankings:                                                                                                    1. Rose Zhang          (Stanford)                                                                                                2. Rachel Heck        (Stanford)                                                                                                3. Ingrid Lindblad (LSU)                                                                                                      4. Linn Grant (Arizona State)                                                                                              5. Emma Spitz (UCLA)

Are you an Athlete?

Create a free profile to access the largest network specifically designed to connect athletes to opportunities. Get started.

RELATED ARTICLES
2024 WNBA Draft Recap: Caitlin Clark Goes No. 1, Fever and Sparks Shine

2024 WNBA Draft Recap: Caitlin Clark Goes No. 1, Fever and Sparks Shine

The 2024 WNBA Draft saw the Indiana Fever select Caitlin Clark with the first overall pick, adding...

ByBen Gauthier | Tue Apr 16 2024
Sports Apps: The Future of Sports Engagement and Fan Interaction

Sports Apps: The Future of Sports Engagement and Fan Interaction

In the increasingly digital world we live in, it comes as no surprise that sports engagement and...

ByTiffany Allen | Thu Aug 24 2023
Artificial Intelligence: A Game-Changer for the Sports Industry

Artificial Intelligence: A Game-Changer for the Sports Industry

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries across the board, revolutionizing the way...

ByTiffany Allen | Mon Aug 21 2023
USA Football: Two NFL Teams To Provide Coach Certification To Support Youth Football

USA Football: Two NFL Teams To Provide Coach Certification To Support Youth Football

The Indianapolis Colts and the Cleveland Browns have announced their support for USA Football's...

ByTiffany Allen | Thu May 04 2023
Ontario Volleyball Association: February/March - News and Updates

Ontario Volleyball Association: February/March - News and Updates

A new season means new events and opportunities for volleyball athletes across Canada. As the...

ByOVA Team Ontario | Thu Mar 30 2023
Tackling Sports Industry Fragmentation by Creating Athlete-First Solutions

Tackling Sports Industry Fragmentation by Creating Athlete-First Solutions

The sports industry is undergoing rapid change, putting pressure on organizations to keep pace. To...

ByJoey Grant | Mon Feb 06 2023
Do They Have High School Sports In European Countries?

Do They Have High School Sports In European Countries?

Unlike the United States, European countries do not have high school athletics. It is a completely...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Nov 22 2022
How To Improve Your Golf Game With A New Workout Routine

How To Improve Your Golf Game With A New Workout Routine

The potency of preparedness in winning all battles, from the most ferocious to the most trivial of...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Nov 22 2022
Which College Sports Mascots Are The Most Polarizing?

Which College Sports Mascots Are The Most Polarizing?

They’re one of the most crucial aspects to a college sports viewing experience. The players?...

ByAndrew Pistone | Mon Nov 21 2022
Bucket List: Five More College Football Traditions You Need To See

Bucket List: Five More College Football Traditions You Need To See

Part two of some of the best division 1 college football game day traditions throughout the United...

ByScotty Jenkins | Sat Nov 05 2022
Bucket List: Five College Football Traditions You Need To See

Bucket List: Five College Football Traditions You Need To See

One of the best parts about college football are the traditions that have been around for decades....

ByScotty Jenkins | Sat Nov 05 2022
What are "Guarantee Games" in College Football?

What are "Guarantee Games" in College Football?

As the 2022 college football season gets underway, there are many behemoth matchups on the calendar...

ByAndrew Pistone | Sun Sep 25 2022
What CFB Programs Are Developing The Most NFL Talent At Each Position

What CFB Programs Are Developing The Most NFL Talent At Each Position

More than most sports, the fundamentals of Football change greatly depending on which position you...

ByAria Modirmassihai | Fri Sep 16 2022
Ranking the Five Best Division II Football Conferences

Ranking the Five Best Division II Football Conferences

While most fans are familiar with the prestigious football schools of the NCAA's Division I, the...

ByBryan Armetta | Thu Jul 28 2022
Women's Gymnastics Development Program: How To Get Started With Team USA

Women's Gymnastics Development Program: How To Get Started With Team USA

If you are a part of the gymnastics world, people often ask questions like, " Exactly how wide is...

ByTiana Schoney | Thu Jul 07 2022
Where to find the most Division III football championships

Where to find the most Division III football championships

At nearly 500 miles apart, two small Midwestern cities play host to a pair of college campuses. At...

ByBrice Odel | Thu Jun 16 2022
What Is 7-on-7 Football? And Why It Is The Best Offseason Activity

What Is 7-on-7 Football? And Why It Is The Best Offseason Activity

Another cold, barren football offseason is now upon us. As the Los Angeles Rams lifted the Lombardi...

ByBryan Armetta | Sun May 01 2022
Why Amateur Golf Events Are Important For College Recruiting

Why Amateur Golf Events Are Important For College Recruiting

With the immergence of golf as a sport of leisure during the global Covid-19 pandemic, more kids...

ByDJ Cadden | Tue Apr 05 2022
Are The Kansas Jayhawks Next To Fly The Coop In Conference Realignment?

Are The Kansas Jayhawks Next To Fly The Coop In Conference Realignment?

College sports has had another topsy turvy summer with regards to major college sports programs...

ByAndrew Pistone | Tue Apr 05 2022
Beach Volleyball and Ice Hockey Championship Bracket Updates

Beach Volleyball and Ice Hockey Championship Bracket Updates

Everywhere sports fans turn, it seems like more teams are being allowed to compete for titles. The...

ByAndrew Pistone | Thu Jan 20 2022
Women's Gymnastics: Interview with Division III Head Coach, Kasey Crawford

Women's Gymnastics: Interview with Division III Head Coach, Kasey Crawford

University of Wisconsin La-Crosse [https://uwlathletics.com/sports/womens-gymnastics] has one of...

ByTiana Schoney | Tue Jan 04 2022
Women’s Golf Championship Format Update

Women’s Golf Championship Format Update

When the very best female golfers tee off for the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship’s next...

ByAndrew Pistone | Fri Dec 03 2021
Which 3 Teams Can Win The Division I Men’s Soccer Championship?

Which 3 Teams Can Win The Division I Men’s Soccer Championship?

NCAA men’s soccer has kicked off within the past several weeks, and there are a bunch of very...

ByAndrew Pistone | Sun Oct 24 2021
The Top Women’s College Volleyball Players To Watch This Year

The Top Women’s College Volleyball Players To Watch This Year

NCAA Division I women’s volleyball is off to a flying start. As outlined in this...

ByAndrew Pistone | Fri Oct 22 2021
Celebrating the Pre-Eminent Elder Stateswoman of College Sports Fandom

Celebrating the Pre-Eminent Elder Stateswoman of College Sports Fandom

Any time anyone lives to be 102 years old, major props and a celebration are in order. When the...

ByAndrew Pistone | Wed Sep 29 2021
Division III Cross Country Runs Into Re-Alignment

Division III Cross Country Runs Into Re-Alignment

Changes are coming to the NCAA Division III cross country regional model that has been in...

ByAndrew Pistone | Fri Sep 24 2021
Division III to the Miami Heat: The Intriguing Career of NBA Star Duncan Robinson

Division III to the Miami Heat: The Intriguing Career of NBA Star Duncan Robinson

Duncan Robinson has had a career that has taken a young kid from Maine to the highest peaks and of...

ByJamison White | Thu Sep 16 2021
NCAA Field Hockey Officiating Leadership Update

NCAA Field Hockey Officiating Leadership Update

With the impending retirement of current NCAA Field Hockey National Coordinator of Officials Steve...

ByAndrew Pistone | Thu Sep 16 2021
The Curious Football Coach Who Calls Plays Like A Video Game

The Curious Football Coach Who Calls Plays Like A Video Game

Football coaches all have their own approach to the game. Some, like Chip Kelly, are known to be...

ByJamison White | Wed Sep 15 2021
Esports: Will they ever match up to major college athletics?

Esports: Will they ever match up to major college athletics?

eSports are a medium of entertainment that is rapidly expanding as of late. From first-person...

ByAlexis Peltzer-Harding | Tue Sep 14 2021
Rethinking Female Team Names In College Sports

Rethinking Female Team Names In College Sports

The Baylor Lady Bears women’s basketball team made an emphatic statement last week. Don’t call us...

ByAndrew Pistone | Mon Sep 13 2021
Women’s Soccer: Three Division-I Teams Who Can Win A National Title This Year

Women’s Soccer: Three Division-I Teams Who Can Win A National Title This Year

As the 2021-2022 NCAA Women’s soccer season enters its second full month of play, it’s a good time...

ByAndrew Pistone | Sat Sep 11 2021
FCS Football: A Recap of Week 1 Games

FCS Football: A Recap of Week 1 Games

Week 1 was an eventful stretch of football for the FBS. We saw upsets, nailbiters, blowouts and...

ByCorey Ghee | Fri Sep 10 2021
Men's Golf: A breakdown of the Division-I college season

Men's Golf: A breakdown of the Division-I college season

The Pepperdine Waves were crowned National Champions at Grayhawk Golf Club last June. They defeated...

ByBrice Odel | Fri Sep 10 2021
A Record Setting FCS Football Performance You May Have Missed

A Record Setting FCS Football Performance You May Have Missed

It’s one of the oldest clichés in sports, but it is often said that watching a game is a chance to...

ByAndrew Pistone | Thu Sep 09 2021
Women's Golf: A breakdown of the Division I college season

Women's Golf: A breakdown of the Division I college season

The Spring of 2021 was filled with controversy in the women's golf world. The Baton Rouge regional...

ByBrice Odel | Wed Sep 08 2021
College Softball: A Brief History one of the NCAA's Female-Only Sports

College Softball: A Brief History one of the NCAA's Female-Only Sports

Softball on its own took a while to gain the traction to become a sport, let alone being respected...

ByAlexis Peltzer-Harding | Wed Sep 08 2021
ESPN updates the College Football Top 25 Rankings after Week One

ESPN updates the College Football Top 25 Rankings after Week One

Georgia came, the Bulldogs saw, then the defense of Kirby Smart conquered. The 10-3 win on Saturday...

ByScotty Jenkins | Wed Sep 08 2021
Leaping Into College Gymnastics’ Format And Scoring Changes

Leaping Into College Gymnastics’ Format And Scoring Changes

Did you enjoy watching primetime gymnastics during the Tokyo Olympics this summer? If so, there’s...

ByAndrew Pistone | Tue Sep 07 2021
NCAA Men’s Basketball To Appoint New Rules Czar

NCAA Men’s Basketball To Appoint New Rules Czar

The 2021-2022 NCAA men’s basketball season will mark the end of an era in a little considered way....

ByAndrew Pistone | Tue Sep 07 2021
Women's Volleyball Recap: Week 1 of the Division-I Season

Women's Volleyball Recap: Week 1 of the Division-I Season

The Women's College Volleyball season has wrapped up its first week of play. After beating Texas...

ByNick Pavelec | Fri Sep 03 2021
2021 NCAA Woman Of The Year Nominees Announced

2021 NCAA Woman Of The Year Nominees Announced

Last week, the NCAA unveiled a special list of female college athletes who are excelling on the...

ByAndrew Pistone | Thu Sep 02 2021
Preview of Division II College Football's Opening Weekend

Preview of Division II College Football's Opening Weekend

Labor day weekend is a weekend where we all rejoice, the football drought is over! After months of...

ByNick Pavelec | Thu Sep 02 2021
College Soccer: A Wild Opening Weekend In Division I

College Soccer: A Wild Opening Weekend In Division I

Men's Division 1 soccer has seen quite the toss up in the last couple of years. With perennial...

ByNick Pavelec | Tue Aug 31 2021
How Would Rumored Signing Limit Changes Affect College Football?

How Would Rumored Signing Limit Changes Affect College Football?

It may not have been the main intended consequence, but the NCAA’s new policy on transfer players...

ByAndrew Pistone | Sat Aug 28 2021
College Football's Big Men On Campus: Big Ten West

College Football's Big Men On Campus: Big Ten West

Early season practices have started all around the country and the first week of the college...

ByMitch Hill | Thu Aug 26 2021
JR Smith Is Enrolled In College... And Trying Out For The Golf Team

JR Smith Is Enrolled In College... And Trying Out For The Golf Team

J.R. Smith had an extremely fun NBA career arc. Coming straight out of high school into the league...

ByAndrew Pistone | Sat Aug 21 2021
How Can Politicians Affect Conference Realignment?

How Can Politicians Affect Conference Realignment?

As the University of Texas and University of Oklahoma prepare to leave the Big 12, it seems like...

ByAndrew Pistone | Wed Aug 18 2021
Biggest Takeaways from the Men’s College Soccer Preseason Rankings

Biggest Takeaways from the Men’s College Soccer Preseason Rankings

Last Wednesday, the NCAA officially released the first preseason poll (United Soccer Coaches Poll)...

ByCoby Seaver | Mon Aug 16 2021
Why College Lacrosse Is The Fastest-Growing Sport In The NCAA

Why College Lacrosse Is The Fastest-Growing Sport In The NCAA

Despite the pandemic placing countless uncertainties and restrictions on all college sports, one...

ByAria Modirmassihai | Thu Aug 12 2021