July 3, 2018
Louise Yu was named to the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar Team for her academic success as a Commodore freshman.
Yu, from Duluth, Ga., was recognized for achieving a cumulative GPA higher than 3.50. It marked the 13th straight year the Commodores have had a player named to the exclusive team.
Yu produced a superb freshman campaign for the Commodores. Playing in nine of 10 tournaments, Yu earned SEC All-Freshman Team recognition after earning a 19th-place individual finish at the conference championship. She capped the year as Vanderbilt’s low individual at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional, shooting a 54-hole total of 1-over 217.
This summer, Yu has continued excellent form. In early June, the graduate of Peachtree Ridge High School captured the Georgia State Golf Association Women’s Match Clay title, impressively defeating her opponent in the finals by a 5-and-4 margin. Yu never played more than 16 holes while defeating four match-play opponents to win the tournament.
Later in June, Yu narrowly missed qualifying for the U.S. Girl’s Amateur Championship when she didn’t advance out of a playoff at Cartersville (Ga.) Country Club. She shot even-par 72 to reach the playoff.
On July 2, Yu nearly qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur, finishing fifth in a qualifier at Glenmore Country Club near Charlottesville, Va. She became a second alternate from the qualifier after shooting a round of 71.
Yu finished the 2017-18 season with a 73.48 stroke average, ranking third on a Vanderbilt squad that advanced to NCAA postseason play. She produced three top-20 individual finishes, including a fourth-place tie at the Brickyard Collegiate in Macon, Ga., and a tie for seventh at the UCF Challenge in Orlando.
Yu was part of a strong freshman trio, along with Morgan Baxendale and Virginia Green, who played key roles for the Commodores during their first year on campus.
Incoming VU freshman Annie Kim headed to U.S. Girl’s Junior Championship
Annie Kim, a rising freshman for the Commodores, will play in the U.S. Girl’s Junior Championship by claiming a qualifying tournament in Arkansas.
Kim, from Howey in the Hills, Fla., secured a spot in the U.S. Girl’s Junior field on June 11 by firing a two-under par 70 at Fianna Hills Country Club in Fort Smith, Ark. Kim produced the only sub-par round at the Fort Smith event.
The U.S. Girl’s Junior Championship will be staged July 16-21 at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, Calif. It will consist of 156 players looking to advance for match play after 36 holes of stroke play.
Notable recent U.S. Girl’s Junior champions are Ariya Jutanugarn (2011), Lexi Thompson (2008) and Inbee Park (2002).
