Oregon women’s golf team claims several Big Ten awards

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Big Ten Conference recognized a number of Oregon women’s golf team members on Monday, including Kiara Romero as the Big Ten Women’s Golfer of the Year and Derek Radley as the Big Ten Coach of the Year.

The Ducks won the Big Ten Tournament in their debut season in the league, claiming the second team conference title in program history. Romero became only the third Duck to win an individual conference championship in women’s golf, along with Hsin-Yu Lu (2022) and Caroline Inglis (2015). 

Romero had the lowest adjusted scoring average in the conference this season and is the first athlete in program history to be named conference player of the year as well as receive the Mary Fossum Award. She’s currently ranked No. 3 in the individual national rankings and the World Amateur Golf Rankings. Her scoring average of 70.16 is on track to break her own UO single-season record of 70.84 set in 2023-24.

Naturally, Romero is also on the all-Big Ten first-team along with two teammates, freshman Suvichaya Vinijchaitham and sophomore Karen Tsuru. That gives Oregon a league-high three first-team honorees. 

Tsuru will also set to receive the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award after being ranked No. 29 in the individual national rankings and No. 43 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. Vinijchaitham has had six top-10 finishes this season and is ranked No. 25 in the nation.

Freshman Tong An was named to the all-Big Ten second team which tied the Ducks with Northwestern for the most first and second team selections in the conference. She was vital for the Oregon in the Big Ten Championship where she shot 6-under 66 in the final round to help them win the team title.

Radley is just the second Oregon women’s golf coach head coach to be chosen as the conference coach of the year, alongside Renee Baumgartner in 1997. In the 2024-25 season, Oregon has carded six of the eight lowest team rounds in program history and four of the nine lowest 54-hole scores. 

Oregon is ranked fifth in the nation and received the top seed in the NCAA Gold Canyon Regional in Arizona on May 5-7. Oregon will have to finish in the top five of the 12-team field to qualify for the 2025 NCAA Women’s Golf Championships in Carlsbad, California on May 16-21.