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Big Ten CommunicationsPublished: 3/12/2026, Last updated: 3/12/2026
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Chong, Valero Earn Weekly Women's Golf Honors

Trojans sophomore wins GameAbove Invitational, leads USC to team victory.

ROSEMONT, Ill. – University of Southern California sophomore Kylie Chong has been named the Big Ten Women’s Golfer of the Week, and Purdue University's Luana Valero received Freshman of the Week honors, for tournaments from March 5-11.

 

Golfer of the Week
Kylie Chong, Southern California

Sophomore – Torrance, California – Ambassador - Business Administration

 

·       Carded an 11-under 205 to win by four strokes at the inaugural GameAbove Golf Invitational, hosted at Rolling Hills Country Club in Rolling Hills Estates, California

·       One of only two players in the field to post three rounds under par during the tournament

·       Earned her second win of the season, and second of her collegiate career, along with September's GolfWeek Red Sky Classic

·       Helped lead the Trojans (-22; 842) to a 12-shot victory on a leaderboard that included four of the Top-11 teams in the nation

 

Freshman of the Week
Luana Valero, Purdue

Freshman – Medellin, Colombia

 

·       Earned the first Top-10 result of her career at the Shootout At Wachesaw, hosted at Wachesaw Plantation Club in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

·       Set a Boilermakers record for best 36-hole tournament performance by a freshman (74-72 - 146)



2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Golf Weekly Awards

Sept. 11 - G: Elise Lee, USC | F: Arianna Lau, Northwestern

Sept. 18 – G: Alexis Myers, Illinois | F: Alexis Myers, Illinois

Sept. 25 – G: Kylie Chong, USC & Jasmine Koo, USC | F: Sarah Hammett, USC

Oct. 2 – G: Jenny Lee, UCLA | F: Arianna Lau, Northwestern

Oct. 9 – G: Maddie May, Indiana | F: N/A

Oct. 16 – G: Taylor Kehoe, MSU | F: Lucia Valderrama, MSU

Oct. 23 – G: Surapa Janthamunee, MD | F: Luana Valero, PUR

Oct. 30 – G: Dianna Lee, NU | F: Elizabeth Ryu, RUT

Feb. 5 – G: Jenny Lee, UCLA | F: Kacey Ly, UCLA

Feb. 19 – G: Dianna Lee, NU & Catherine Park, USC | F: Kacey Ly, UCLA

Feb. 26 – G: Kiara Romero, ORE | F: Kaleigh Babineaux, NEB & Ailis Tribolet, NEB

March 12 - G: Kylie Chong, USC | F: Luana Valero, PUR

 

 

 

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