USC freshman Jasmine Koo had a simple reaction when her team earned the No. 2 seed for the NCAA Division I women’s golf regional in Lexington, Kentucky. She texted her teammates: “We have to go to KFC.”
That’s classic Koo – always keeping things unpredictable.
Before any Kentucky fried chicken adventures, Koo is back at the Chevron Championship in The Woodlands, Texas. She’s looking to make history after being last year’s low amateur with an impressive T-13 finish at Carlton Woods. Only four players have earned low amateur honors multiple times at this major: Vicki Goetze, Lorena Ochoa, Michelle Wie (three times), and Ariya Jutanugarn.
Koo’s opening round Thursday was solid – a 2-under 70 with five birdies and just 28 putts. She’s sitting two shots out of a tie for third, behind co-leaders Yan Liu and Haeran Ryu at 7 under.
“My game felt really good today,” Koo said. “There were some shots that I didn’t really like, but overall, I stayed really patient.”
Last year’s Chevron featured one of Koo’s most memorable moments. At the par-5 18th, she chunked a 5-wood that hit a floating advertisement in the middle of the lake, then bounced miraculously onto dry land just off the green. She went on to make birdie. That performance helped her earn a spot on the U.S. Curtis Cup team. She’s won three college tournaments during her freshman year at USC, though she’s cooled off with T-46 finishes in her last three starts.
Koo says last year’s experience at Carlton Woods was eye-opening.
“I don’t have to have my A+ game to perform out here,” Koo said. “I think that’s really helped me, because last year I was surprised with kind of like what the cut line score was, kind of how reachable the field was, and just like that realization made me more calm today.”
“I wasn’t as nervous, as rushed to get something going.”
Having USC assistant Beth Wu following her this week has added to Koo’s comfort level.
“After a three-putt she’ll be like, ‘When you come back, you’ll be in speed jail, but it’s OK. Just focus on the next hole,'” Koo explained, referencing a USC practice drill where players must work on their putting speed until coaches release them from “jail.” “That relieves the pressure and makes everything very happy.”
Koo is competing against seven other amateurs this week, including world No. 1 Lottie Woad and recent Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion Carla Bernat. High-schooler Gianna Clemente posted a solid 71 on Thursday.
CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP LOW AMATEURS
Since 1983, when event became an LPGA major
2024 – Jasmine Koo
2023 – Eila Galitsky
2022 – Brooke Seay
2021 – None
2020 – Rose Zhang
2019 – Patty Tavatanakit
2018 – Jeeno Thitikul
2017 – Lucy Li
2016 – Albane Valenzuela, Hannah O’Sullivan
2015 – Haley Moore
2014 – Minjee Lee
2013 – Lydia Ko
2012 – Ariya Jutanugarn
2011 – Ariya Jutanugarn
2010 – Jennifer Song
2009 – Lexi Thompson, Tiffany Joh
2008 – Amanda Blumenherst
2007 – Stacy Lewis
2006 – Angela Park
2005 – Michelle Wie
2004 – Michelle Wie
2003 – Michelle Wie
2002 – Lorena Ochoa
2001 – Lorena Ochoa
2000 – Aree Song
1999 – Grace Park
1998 – Beth Bauer
1997 – Marisa Baena
1996 – None
1995 – None
1994 – None
1993 – Vicki Goetze
1992 – Amy Fruhwirth
1991 – Vicki Goetze
1990 – Katie Haley
1989 – Carol Semple Thompson
1988 – Caroline Keggi
1987 – Danielle Ammaccapane
1986 – Kim Williams
1985 – Deb Richard
1984 – Jody Anschutz, Joanne Pacillo
1983 – Kathy Guadagnino
