Let’s give a warm welcome to Natasha Kiel to the @VandyWGolf family. ✍🏼 #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/BPoL5ltFMB
— Vanderbilt Women’s Golf (@VandyWGolf) November 11, 2020
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt women’s golf program is pleased to officially welcome Natashia Kiel.
Kiel signed a letter of intent Wednesday to become a Commodore.
“We are really excited about Natasha and we’re grateful she has chosen to be a part of our Vandy golf family,” Vanderbilt head coach Greg Allen said. “I think she has a lot of potential and with her work ethic and great attitude I believe her best golf is ahead of her.”
Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and hailing from New Hope, Pennsylvania, Kiel currently competes for Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida. She recently finished third at the Golfweek International Junior and won the Sea Pines Junior Heritage in February.
Kiel, who sports a 4.24 GPA, is the No. 2-ranked player out of the state of Pennsylvania and 44th-ranked player in the 2021 class. She chose the Commodores over the University of Pennsylvania, Yale, Harvard, Virginia and Northwestern.
Kiel has received a National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test Letter of Commendation, is an AJGA Scholastic Junior All-American and a member of the National Honor Society. In 2019, Kiel won the HGJT College Prep Series and the AJGA BGGA at Innisbrook Qualifier.
She also brought home three second-place finishes (IJGT Faldo Grand Finale, Northern Junior Championship and AJGA Dana Incorporated Junior Open) and a pair of top-five placements (AJGA Judie Oppenheimer Memorial Junior and Junior PGA Championship Section Qualifier) that year.
“Vanderbilt, from a holistic view, gives me the best chance to succeed in what I decide to pursue,” Kiel said. “It has a beautiful campus, great education, opportunity for me to succeed in my sport and amazing student life.”
Said Allen: “She is a very independent young lady that has shown she is mentally tough when the conditions aren’t ideal and that’s what we want on our team.”
The Kiel Profile
- Full name is Natasha Lynn Young-Min Kiel
- Is a second-degree black belt
- No. 2-ranked player out of Pennsylvania
- Ranked 44th nationally
- In 2018, became first female to win Friends Schools League Golf Championship by shooting a 71 while competing for the George School in Newtown, Pennsylvania
- Won 2020 Sea Pines Junior Heritage
- Part of team championship at 2020 Pennsylvania Junior Girls’ Championship
- Finished third at the Golfweek International Junior Invitational and the 2020 Pennsylvania Junior Boys and Girls State Championship
- Came in fourth at the 2020 IJGT WAGR Event
- Won the 2019 HGJT College Prep Series at Penn State and the 2019 AJGA BGGA at Innisbrook Qualifier
- Placed second in the 2019 Faldo Series US Grand Final, the 2019 Northern Junior Championship and the AJGA Dan Incorporated Junior Open
- Finished fourth at the 2019 AJGA Judie Oppenheimer Memorial junior and fifth at the 2019 Junior PGA Championship Section Qualifier
- Took home second at the 2018 AJGA Junior Qualifier
- Came in third at the 2018 Orlando Junior Open, 2018 New Jersey Spring Junior Open and 2018 HJGT Junior Open at Eagle Creek
