Advertisement

Here are 10 men’s college golf freshmen to watch in the 2024-25 season

Jackson Herrington plays his tee shot on the 14th hole during the round of 32 of the 2024 U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Chris Keane/USGA)
Jackson Herrington plays his tee shot on the 14th hole during the round of 32 of the 2024 U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Chris Keane/USGA)

College golf has returned, which means the race to make the NCAA Championship is on.

With that means the stars of college golf are back on campus and battling it out for major awards, victories and more. It also means a new wave of talent has entered the fold and is ready to make its mark on college golf.

There are always talented freshmen who enter the college golf ranks and become a force right away. Look no further than last year, when Auburn's Jackson Koivun swept the major awards, including the Haskins Award, en route to leading the Tigers to their first national championship in school history.

Now, it's time to meet the next wave of youngsters in college golf.

Here's a look at 10 men's freshmen to watch during the 2024-25 season.

TK Chantananuwat, Stanford

Ratchanon Tk Chantananuwat of Thailand plays his tee shot on the third hole during the Round of 32 at the U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on August 15, 2024 in Chaska, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Ratchanon Tk Chantananuwat of Thailand plays his tee shot on the third hole during the Round of 32 at the U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on August 15, 2024 in Chaska, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Chantananuwat has been ranked as high as sixth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking during his career and is the top Asian amateur golfer. When he was 15, he won the Asian Tour's Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup to become the youngest player ever to win an event on a major professional tour.

Billy Davis, Auburn

Billy Davis putts on the seventh green during the second round of the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship at El Cardonal at Diamante in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. (Photo: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
Billy Davis putts on the seventh green during the second round of the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship at El Cardonal at Diamante in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. (Photo: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

Davis was tabbed as the No. 1 recruit in the class by Golfweek/Sagarin rankings. He also was the low scorer that led Team USA to a T-1 finish at the 2024 Junior World Cup in Japan. Additionally, Davis Monday qualified for the PGA Tour's World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico.

Wheaton Ennis, Texas A-M

Wheaton Ennis of the United States plays his tee shot on the third hole during the Round of 32 at the U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on August 15, 2024 in Chaska, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Wheaton Ennis of the United States plays his tee shot on the third hole during the Round of 32 at the U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on August 15, 2024 in Chaska, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

This summer, Ennis won the Arizona Amateur Championship and then made an appearance in the Round of 32 at the 2024 U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National.

Nicholas Gross, Alabama

Nicholas Gross of team USA tees off on the 1st hole during the Day Three of the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 28, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Nicholas Gross of team USA tees off on the 1st hole during the Day Three of the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 28, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Gross is ranked No. 1 in his class in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, and he was also a member of the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup team and the 2022 Junior Presidents Cup team.

Jackson Herrington, Tennessee

Herrington has become one of the best juniors in the game the past year, and the player they call "Fridge" made an ace in match play at the 2024 U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National.

Connor Graham, Texas Tech

Connor Graham of team Europe tees off on the 1st hole during the Day Three of the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 28, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Connor Graham of team Europe tees off on the 1st hole during the Day Three of the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 28, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Graham became the youngest golfer to play in the Walker Cup in the 2023 tournament. He also participated in the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup on Team Europe. From Scotland, he will join Texas Tech's Calum Scott, the low am at the 2024 Open Championship, in the lineup.

Baylor Larrabee, UCLA

Baylor Larrabee plays his tee shot on the fifth hole during the first round of stroke play of the 2024 U.S. Amateur at Chaska Town Course in Chaska, Minn. on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Chris Keane/USGA)
Baylor Larrabee plays his tee shot on the fifth hole during the first round of stroke play of the 2024 U.S. Amateur at Chaska Town Course in Chaska, Minn. on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Chris Keane/USGA)

Larrabee was named Washington Junior Golf Association Player of the Year and Boys Player of the Year in 2023 after winning three titles at the Hogan Cup, Western Open and Player's Open

Jay Leng Jr., Stanford

Jay Leng Jr. plays a shot on the 18th hole during the first round of stroke play of the 2024 U.S. Amateur at Chaska Town Course in Chaska, Minn. on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Chris Keane/USGA)
Jay Leng Jr. plays a shot on the 18th hole during the first round of stroke play of the 2024 U.S. Amateur at Chaska Town Course in Chaska, Minn. on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Chris Keane/USGA)

Leng was ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the state of California and is a multiple-time AJGA Junior Tour champion. He's also a two-time AJGA First-Team Rolex All-American and competed in the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup with Team USA.

Ethan Paschal, North Carolina

North Carolina's Ethan Paschal. (Photo: AJGA)
North Carolina's Ethan Paschal. (Photo: AJGA)

Ethan was medalist in the 2023 North Carolina 3A state championship and led his team to the state title. He won the individual championship with a birdie on the fourth playoff hole. He earned second-team Rolex Junior All-America honors.

Parker Sands, Florida

Parker Sands plays his tee shot on the North Course 11th hole during the second round of stroke play of the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (Logan Whitton/USGA)
Parker Sands plays his tee shot on the North Course 11th hole during the second round of stroke play of the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (Logan Whitton/USGA)

Sands is the top player from Oklahoma, and he won the Western Junior earlier this summer. He also won the 71st Oklahoma Golf Association Junior Boys Championship.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Here are 10 men’s college golf freshmen to watch in the 2024-25 season