24 of the best moments from college and amateur golf in 2024
The year 2024 is coming to a close, so it’s time to look back at the best moments from the year.
We’re focusing on the amateur game.
Whether it was the biggest events of the year or a stellar individual performance, there was no shortage of incredible moments in 2024 for the top amateurs in the world.
Here’s a look at 24 of the best moments from college and amateur golf this year.
Auburn wins first title
The Tigers captured their first national championship in school history in a thrilling match against Florida State.
Rianne Malixi makes history
Talk about a breakout year. Malixi won both the U.S. Girls’ Junior and the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
Koivun’s emergence
Koivun had a dominant freshman season for Auburn, winning the Haskins Award.
Koo’s dominance
The breakout player in the fall season was USC freshman Jasmine Koo, who won three times and is the early favorite for the Annika Award.
Is Clanton the future?
Clanton had a dominant summer on the PGA Tour, and he’s on the verge of earning his Tour card because of it.
Woad’s reign
Woad was one of the best female amateurs in the world in 2024, her crowning moment coming when she won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Alabama facility sets new bar
How far has college golf come in recent years? Well, Alabama spent $47 million on its practice facility.
Jimmy Ellis crazy U.S. Am run
One of the best stories of the U.S. Amateur, Jimmy Ellis shot 61 and won medalist honors at Hazeltine.
Stanford women win (again)
The Stanford women’s golf team continued its dominance, winning its second title in three years.
Neal Shipley’s major memories
Shipley joined an exclusive list of amateurs to earn low am honors at both the Masters and U.S. Open.
Adela Cernousek breaks through
A breakout year for Cernousek got going when she won the NCAA individual title in May.
NGI continues to grow
The National Golf Invitational, the NIT of college golf, was special in its second year, and it’s only going to grow in 2025.
Vamos for Ballester
The senior at Arizona State became the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Amateur, knocking off Noah Kent at Hazeltine.
Defending home turf
On home soil, Great Britain and Ireland pulled off the upset victory against the Americans.
Beck’s brilliance
Evan Beck captured the U.S. Mid-Amateur, punching his ticket to the 2025 Masters and U.S. Open.
The little star shines bright
The sky’s the limit for Talley in the future, who had a year to remember in USGA events, capped with her topping World No. 1 Lottie Woad in singles at the Curtis Cup.
20-for-10 playoff
Yes, there was one at the U.S. Women’s Amateur. And it was chaos.
Tai holds on at NCAAs
It wasn’t pretty on the way home, but Tai held on to win the NCAA individual title in May.
Wenyi’s record-setting tournament
Wenyi Ding did a lot of impressive things during his 2024, but arguably none bigger than his NCAA scoring record at the Amer Ari.
Debut of Omni La Costa
The NCAA Championships moved to a renovated Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, California, where a former PGA Tour venue tested college golf’s best.
Ingrid Lindblad’s final hoorah
One of the most consistent college golfers of all-time capped her career winning the Annika Award.
Avery Weed shoots 61
This fall, Weed tied the NCAA scoring record in relation to par with a thrilling round at Mississippi State’s home event.
LPGA’s major announcement
The LPGA announced its LEAP program, the first time the top female college and amateur players would have direct access to the LPGA.
Americans retain Palmer Cup
The Americans went to Lahinch and won the 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup.
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