USC’s Jasmine Koo gets first win at Windy City Collegiate, Arizona State claims team title

It was only a matter of time.

USC freshman Jasmine Koo picked up the first win of her college career Tuesday, capturing the individual title of the 2024 Windy City Collegiate at Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette, Illinois, outside Chicago. Koo, ranked ninth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, shot 5 under over 54 holes to win by two shots over Purdue’s Natasha Kiel.

Koo was one of the top recruits in the 2024 class, and the U.S. Curtis Cup team member didn’t take long to make her mark on the college game. She was 9 under after two rounds of play, and even after a closing 76, she held on for win No. 1.

Oregon’s Suvichaya Vinijchaitham placed third while Arizona’s Charlotte Back came in fourth. There was a big group who tied for fifth, including South Carolina senior Hannah Darling and Oregon sophomore Kiara Romero.

As a team, USC placed third, but it was another former Pac-12 team taking home the trophy in Arizona State. The Sun Devils had all four golfers finish in the top 20, with GB&I Curtis Cup member Patience Rhodes leading the way at T-5. Paula Schulz-Hanssen and Beth Coulter tied for 10th.

South Carolina placed second with USC, Northwestern and Oregon rounding out the top five.

With 15-year-old Asterisk Talley shining, U.S. started strong, but GB&I rallied to even Curtis Cup Match

Nothing about the Curtis Cup Match will be easy for the U.S., even with three straight victories in the rear-view mirror.

Nothing about the Curtis Cup Match will be easy for the United States, even with three straight victories in the rear-view mirror.

And that message rang true during Friday’s opening day of play at Sunningdale in England.

The U.S. side ran out to an early edge, but the team from Great Britain and Ireland rallied to pull things even before the day’s end.

More: Everything to know about the 2024 Curtis Cup at Sunningdale

U.S. captain Meghan Stasi’s side led 2-1 after the morning foursomes, but a chip-in from Sara Byrne on the 17th hole sealed a 2-and-1 win over Catherine Park and Zoe Campos in the afternoon session, pulling things even. Byrne, from Ireland, was paired with Lottie Woad.

https://twitter.com/CurtisCup/status/1829617587698688153

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said GB&I captain Catriona Matthew. “At one point this morning it looked like we were going to be beaten three-nil, but then we had a good comeback. The standard of golf has been pretty amazing. The Americans have made a lot of birdies, we’ve made a lot of birdies, and it was exciting out there in the four-balls. I can see in the team that their confidence is growing just from that finish there this afternoon.”

One of the shining stars for the Americans was 15-year-old Asterisk Talley, who paired with Jasmine Koo for nine birdies in 14 holes during a convincing 5-and-4 win over Lorna McClymont and Mimi Rhodes.

Talley made a name for herself earlier this year when she won the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, leading wire-to-wire. Then she made her Augusta National Women’s Amateur debut before dominating the USGA circuit this summer.

In the afternoon session, Talley made birdies on holes No. 10, 11 and 13 to clinch the victory.

“I think both teams played extremely well,” said Stasi. “It was a really good start for us in the morning. We had a couple all-square matches that we came back and fought for. I think they’re going to learn a lot from today. It’s a long day out there for most of them.

“I think they’re going to learn a little bit more about each other’s games and just take that into tomorrow.”

Play resumes on Saturday.

Saturday, Aug. 31

1:45-2:05 a.m. – Foursomes (three matches)

7:05-7:35 a.m. – Four-Ball (three matches)

Sunday, June 10

4:05-5:15 a.m. – Singles (eight matches)

This USC golf signee tied an Augusta National Women’s Amateur record in final round

Jasmine Koo is leaving Augusta National with hardware.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Jasmine Koo is leaving Augusta National with hardware.

The 18-year-old had a rollercoaster round on Saturday at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, which began with a birdie at No. 2, followed by bogey, double-bogey, bogey on holes 4-6.

The University of Southern California signee righted the ship, however, with eagles on Nos. 8 and 15.

Koo earned two pairs of crystal highball glasses for the accomplishment.

“I played three really bad holes, was 3-over for the day, and I looked at my caddie and said, ‘Let’s just enjoy every shot,’” Koo said.

That’s what happened.

Competing in her first ANWA, Koo finished the event at 3-under par, which proved good enough for fourth place.

“I began the round super nervous,” Koo admitted. “I’ve never been to an event with so many patrons, and I made a few hiccups early. But, honestly, after making those mistakes it took the pressure off.”

ANWA: Photos from Augusta National

On the par-5 8th hole, the teenager hit a 3-wood to 25 feet and sank the eagle putt.

At No. 15, Koo knocked down a 4-wood from 194 yards, leaving 12 feet for eagle.

“My caddie (Colby Albert) and I had a disagreement about the line,” Koo said. “I saw less break, and he thought it broke more.”

Albert, a local looper at Augusta National, saw the correct break, and convinced his player to play the line.

“When that eagle went in, it was the loudest roar I’ve heard in my life,” Koo said. “I just smiled and gave a strong fist pump.”

Koo joins Ingrid Lindblad (2022) as the only ANWA player with two eagles in the final round.

Jasmine Koo tops Sadie Englemann to capture 123rd Women’s Western Amateur

“I came into the week not knowing what to expect, and to win the whole thing is such an honor.”

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It was a special week for those involved with the USC women’s golf team at the Women’s Western Amateur.

Sophomore Catherine Park won stroke play, earning the top seed for match play. However, it was Jasmine Koo, a 17-year-old Class of 2024 commit to the Trojans, who’s walking away with one of the oldest trophies, the W.A. Alexander Cup, in amateur golf. Koo beat Stanford rising senior Sadie Englemann 4 and 2 to capture the 123rd Women’s Western Amateur on Saturday at White Eagle Golf Club in Naperville, Illinois.

“I came into the week not knowing what to expect, and to win the whole thing is such an honor,” Koo said. “This is the biggest win I’ve had, so I’ll always remember this week.”

Koo, 13th in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, made six birdies in the championship match to etch her name on the W.A. Alexander Cup and become the first junior to win the Women’s Western Amateur since 2015.

She played 116 holes this week, finishing 27 under with 34 birdies and only seven bogeys. Koo, a rising high school senior, finished stroke play in third.

Held without interruption since its inception in 1901, the Women’s Western Amateur is among the oldest and most prestigious annual championships in women’s amateur golf. The tournament is conducted jointly by the Women’s Western Golf Association and the Western Golf Association.