Mid-season Awards: Top freshmen

It's only been one semester, but these first-year players have made the jump from junior to college golf with few problems.

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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.

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__ *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.

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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.

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*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