FRESHMEN of the Mid-Season
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Jordan Spieth, Texas
As impressive as the 18-year-old from Dallas (right) played this fall was his ability to live up to expectations. It's not easy when everyone has you pegged to win early and often ... particularly too when you're fellow freshmen across the country are making college golf seem simple. But Spieth stepped up quickly, finishing T-6 at the Jerry Pate and T-2 at the Jack Nicklaus before winning the Isleworth Collegiate by a stunning eight strokes. Suffice it to say, Spieth's standout play in no small part helps explain the Longhorns rise to No. 1 in the Golf World/Nike Golf coaches' poll.
Honorable mention:
Patrick Rodgers, Stanford
It took the 18-year-old from Avon, Ind., all of one tournament to claim his first college title when he won medalist honors in his debut at the Fighting Illini/Olympia Fields (he was still a few days away from moving into his dorm at Stanford). He has barely flinched since the victory, finishing with three more top-10 finishes and a 70.5 stroke average.
WOMEN
Soo Bin Kim, Washington
That the British Columbia native (right) recorded her first win at the Stanford Intercollegiate in only her third college start was impressive in its own right. That she did it while also setting the Huskies 54-hole scoring mark (13-under 200), however, took it to the next level. In four other starts, she recorded a T-2 and sixth place finish, while finishing no worse than T-27. Kim also helped Washington return to the Golf World/NGCA coaches' poll for the first time since May 2006.
Honorable mention:
Erynne Lee, UCLA
Considering how deep the Bruins roster is, finding playing time isn't always easy. Yet the 18-year-old from Silverdale, Wash., played three times this fall for the defending NCAA champs and finished carded two top-10 finishes.
GOLF WORLD ALL FRESHMEN TEAM
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Julien Brun, TCU
70.67 avg., 4 starts, 1 win (Tiger Intercollegiate), 3 top-5s. Worst finish: T-10
Rak Cho, Oregon
70.75 avg., 4 starts, 2 top-3s
Cheng-Tseng Pan, Washington
70.6 avg., 4 starts, 1 win (Prestige), 2 top-3s, 3 top-10s
Patrick Rodgers, Stanford
70.5 avg., 4 starts, 1 win (Olympia Fields), 2 top-5s, 4 top-10s
Jordan Spieth, Texas
69.56 avg., 3 starts, 1 win (Isleworth), 2 top-5s. Worst finish: T-6
Justin Thomas, Alabama
71.42 avg., 4 starts, 1 win (Carpet Capital), 2 top-3s
WOMEN
Fanny Cnops, UNC Greensboro
71.93 avg., 5 starts, 1 win (Palmetto Intercollegiate), 2 top-5s, 4 top-10s
Hayley Davis, Baylor
71.92 avg., 4 starts, 3 runner-ups, 4 top-10s
Cassy Isagawa, Oregon
72.75 avg., 4 starts, 2 top-3s, 3 top-11s
Soo Bin Kim, Washington
72.6 avg., 5 starts, 1 win (Stanford Invite), 2 top-5s, 3 top-10s
Erynne Lee, UCLA
72.0 avg., 3 starts, 1 top-5, 2 top-10s
Kristen Park, USC
72.63 avg., 3 starts, 1 top-5, 2 top-10s
Which story lines are you most excited to see play out this spring? Join the college golf discussion on our partner site, GolfWRX.com.
MEN
Jordan Spieth, TexasAs impressive as the 18-year-old from Dallas (right) played this fall was his ability to live up to expectations. It's not easy when everyone has you pegged to win early and often ... particularly too when you're fellow freshmen across the country are making college golf seem simple. But Spieth stepped up quickly, finishing T-6 at the Jerry Pate and T-2 at the Jack Nicklaus before winning the Isleworth Collegiate by a stunning eight strokes. Suffice it to say, Spieth's standout play in no small part helps explain the Longhorns rise to No. 1 in the Golf World/Nike Golf coaches' poll.
Honorable mention:
Patrick Rodgers, Stanford
It took the 18-year-old from Avon, Ind., all of one tournament to claim his first college title when he won medalist honors in his debut at the Fighting Illini/Olympia Fields (he was still a few days away from moving into his dorm at Stanford). He has barely flinched since the victory, finishing with three more top-10 finishes and a 70.5 stroke average.
WOMEN
Soo Bin Kim, WashingtonThat the British Columbia native (right) recorded her first win at the Stanford Intercollegiate in only her third college start was impressive in its own right. That she did it while also setting the Huskies 54-hole scoring mark (13-under 200), however, took it to the next level. In four other starts, she recorded a T-2 and sixth place finish, while finishing no worse than T-27. Kim also helped Washington return to the Golf World/NGCA coaches' poll for the first time since May 2006.
Honorable mention:
Erynne Lee, UCLA
Considering how deep the Bruins roster is, finding playing time isn't always easy. Yet the 18-year-old from Silverdale, Wash., played three times this fall for the defending NCAA champs and finished carded two top-10 finishes.
GOLF WORLD ALL FRESHMEN TEAM
MEN
Julien Brun, TCU
70.67 avg., 4 starts, 1 win (Tiger Intercollegiate), 3 top-5s. Worst finish: T-10
Rak Cho, Oregon
70.75 avg., 4 starts, 2 top-3s
Cheng-Tseng Pan, Washington
70.6 avg., 4 starts, 1 win (Prestige), 2 top-3s, 3 top-10s
Patrick Rodgers, Stanford
70.5 avg., 4 starts, 1 win (Olympia Fields), 2 top-5s, 4 top-10s
Jordan Spieth, Texas
69.56 avg., 3 starts, 1 win (Isleworth), 2 top-5s. Worst finish: T-6
Justin Thomas, Alabama
71.42 avg., 4 starts, 1 win (Carpet Capital), 2 top-3s
WOMEN
Fanny Cnops, UNC Greensboro
71.93 avg., 5 starts, 1 win (Palmetto Intercollegiate), 2 top-5s, 4 top-10s
Hayley Davis, Baylor
71.92 avg., 4 starts, 3 runner-ups, 4 top-10s
Cassy Isagawa, Oregon
72.75 avg., 4 starts, 2 top-3s, 3 top-11s
Soo Bin Kim, Washington
72.6 avg., 5 starts, 1 win (Stanford Invite), 2 top-5s, 3 top-10s
Erynne Lee, UCLA
72.0 avg., 3 starts, 1 top-5, 2 top-10s
Kristen Park, USC
72.63 avg., 3 starts, 1 top-5, 2 top-10s
Which story lines are you most excited to see play out this spring? Join the college golf discussion on our partner site, GolfWRX.com.
