Courtesy of University of Louisville Athletics
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — University of Louisville women’s golf head coach Whitney Young is set to be inducted in Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2024, the organization’s selection committee announced on Tuesday. A native of Glasgow, Kentucky, Young has been the head coach of the Cards for the past five seasons and guided the program to continued success during her time.
Young has spent seven total seasons with the Cardinals as she was an assistant coach for Courtney Trimble for two seasons before being named her replacement after her retirement. She has mentored some of the best players in program history, including Lauren Hartlage, who recently finished fifth at the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
During her time with Young in Louisville, Hartlage became the program’s fourth ever All-American and the first player in program history to be a four-time All-ACC recipient. She was an honorable mention All-American in 2020 and a second team All-American in 2021. In the 2021 season, Hartlage advanced to the NCAA Championship and finished tied for 12th overall.
The Cardinals have advanced as a team to two NCAA Regionals during Young’s tenure, including hosting a regional for the first time in program history in 2021. Young also mentored Kendall Griffin, who finished third overall at the 2022 ACC Championship, the highest individual finish in program history at the ACC Championships.
As a professional after her collegiate career, she registered nine Top-10 finishes in 47 starts on the FUTURES Tour from 2008-10. In 2009, Young won the Duramed Tour Championship with a 9-under-par 204. That same season, she finished sixth on the FUTURES Tour money list to earn her LPGA Tour card for the 2010 campaign. Additionally, Young competed in three U.S. Open events. She qualified for her first Open during her high school playing career in 2003 and later earned spots in 2008 and 2011.
In college, she was a three-time National Golf Coaches Association All-American and four-time First Team All-SEC honoree at Georgia and tallied three Top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships. Young compiled a 74.21 career stroke average, good for sixth-best in program history. She helped the Bulldogs win 10 team titles, including the 2007 SEC Championship.
Before her collegiate career, Young compiled a remarkable junior career. She was a four-time AJGA Polo Golf All-American, with first-team honors in 2002. She had eight victories, with an additional eight Top-10 finishes in 23 AJGA and national events between 1999-03. She represented the United States on the PING Junior Solheim Cup Team in 2002.
Young made national news by representing Glasgow High at the 1994 Kentucky State Championships as a fourth-grader. She became the youngest winner of the Kentucky Amateur, achieving the feat as a 13-year-old in 1998. She won the 1999 and 2000 titles as well.
Young and the rest of the 2024 Hall of Fame Class will be inducted at the official ceremony later this year. More information on that will be released at a later date.
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