Julia Lopez Ramirez
Mississippi State University budding golfer Julia Lopez Ramirez is a woman on a mission. The third-ranked female amateur currently holds a 1240.7045-point average, recording six wins and 18 top-10 finishes. Ramirez’s 2023 triumphs include winning the SEC Women’s Golf Championship, the NCAA Westfield Regional, and the European Ladies’ Amateur Championship.
David Ford
Peachtree Corners-born golfer David Ford has been posting exemplary performances on the course, like his closing round of 64 that helped America win the 2023 World Amateur Team Championship. The University of North Carolina star is currently ranked 4th on the WAGR, with a 1206.3542-point average, four wins, and 19 top-10 finishes. Ford was also part of the U.S. 2023 Walker Cup and Palmer Cup winning teams.
Minsol Kim
South Korea constantly supplies the golfing world with enigmatic talent, and Minsol Kim seems armed and ready to lift the torch higher in women’s golf. The 2022 Korea Girls Junior champion is currently the 4th ranked female amateur, with four wins, 19 top-10 finishes, and a point average of 1236.5440. Kim’s 2023 victories include winning the Dream Park Cup and the Korean National Sports Festival.
Michael Thorbjornsen
American star Michael Thorbjornsen sits atop the PGA TOUR University rankings, making him one of the best-placed prospects for golf glory in 2024. The talented Stanford Cardinal men’s golf team player has amassed quite a resume, scooping trophies such as the U.S. Junior Amateur and PING Invitational in 2018 and the Massachusetts Amateur and Western Amateur in 2021.
Anna Davis
Anna Davis is our last entry on the potential breakout golf stars to watch out for in 2024. The 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion has steadily risen to the top, scooping the Girls Junior Orange Bowl and Girls Junior Invitational in 2023. Davis is the fifth-ranked female amateur, with three wins, 14 top-10 finishes, and an 1175.1180-point average.
Final Thoughts
The surest way to land a spot and succeed in the major professional golf tours is to impress on the amateur level. With programs such as the PGA TOUR University that simplify the process of college golfers turning pro, the above-listed budding stars will be going all in this year to stamp their prowess on the global stage.