Fall Results of the Top Class of 2024 Boys

11/22 CGC Staff

On signing day for the class of 2024, we introduced our final ranking for the top-10 American boys and featured the top international players that had signed with NCAA teams. Throughout their final junior eligible season, these players kept their skills sharp in a mixture of junior and amateur events in preparation for their first collegiate season. We've enjoyed following these former top junior players as they navigated their first fall season of college golf, and they've produced a mixed bag of results. Let's take a look at how they all fared in the beginning of their collegiate journey. Please note that scoring averages should not be compared, as golfers tee it up in a variety of tournaments, some with more difficulty than others.

Top-10 Americans

1. Billy Davis (Auburn): When Davis first committed to Auburn, he was a solid top-25 recruit, then his game exploded in the year leading up to his signing. One would expect the top player in a recruiting class to ease into lineups in college, but Davis has had the tall task of fitting into the lineup of the national champion Tigers, arguably the deepest team in the country. Predictably, Davis has earned playing time early, as he qualified for the Auburn lineup in 3 of 5 events. He started off slowly with a middle of the pack finish at the Valero Texas Collegiate, then showed excellent golf at the Ben Hogan Collegiate with a top-5 finish. Davis closed out the fall with a top-20 finish at the Williams Cup, ending with a 71.2 scoring average at challenging courses. Davis is expected to contend for continued lineup presence for the Tigers as they vie for a second national championship in the spring.

2. Nick Gross (Alabama): Gross was widely known as the top 2024 recruit for several years before his signing, and although he had some success in his final junior season, it was not at the level of the previous year. Nevertheless, he was expected to contribute to the Crimson Tide immediately. He represented Alabama in all four tournaments in the fall, and is starting to acclimate to college golf. With a scoring average of 74 and three middle of the pack finishes, Gross has been a counting score for the Tide in numerous rounds. With his resume and a semester of settling into college, Gross is expected to increase his contribution the team in the spring and keep his presence in the lineup.

3. Jay Leng (Stanford): With the graduation of two top players, Leng was expected to slot easily into the Cardinal lineup, and he has done just that. Leng competed in the starting five in all four tournaments in the fall, his best showing a top-15 finish at the Fighting Illini Invitational in his first collegiate tournament. Following that, Leng has finished in the middle of the pack in two other elite field events and participated in one match play tournament. Leng's consistency and counting scores are a welcome addition to the Cardinal lineup, and he is expected to build upon the 71.7 scoring average he has recorded thus far. He has big shoes to fill, and seems to be adjusting well to college golf.

4. Wheaton Ennis (Texas A&M): One of the best fall seasons belongs the Aggie freshman Ennis, as he cracked the lineup among a solid Texas A&M roster in all five tournaments so far, only 1 of 3 Aggies to do so. Ennis' consistency includes a top-10 finish at the Quebin Cup, top-15s at the Fighting Illini Intercollegiate (elite field) and the Furman Intercollegiate, and two middle of the pack finishes in elite field events. Ennis had ramped up his play and had achieved solid results in the year and a half before joining the Aggies, and has transitioned his game seamlessly to the collegiate level. Ennis recorded a 71.7 scoring average in a strong schedule of events, and should be an integral part of the Texas A&M championship bid in the spring.

5. William Jennings (Alabama): Jennings was consistently a top-5 recruit in this class in his junior golf days, with consistent play in high profile events to prepare his for college golf. With the adjustment to freshman year, Jennings wasn't able to crack a lineup for the Crimson Tide. He did compete in one individual event, with a middle of the pack finish. If Alabama is expected to make a run at the NCAAs this year, they will benefit from Jennings finding his junior golf form and contributing to the team's scoring.

6. Byungho Lee (Pepperdine): Lee is another athlete whose presence was felt in the top-10 in the class of 2024 for several years, having success in higher profile junior events. He didn't replicate his prior success in 2024, but was still expected to factor into the Waves' lineups. Lee cracked the lineup at one strong-field event out of four, then won the title at an individual event to close out the fall. That brought his scoring average down to a 72.5, and coach Beard hopes that Lee continues an upward trajectory in the spring of 2025.

7. Ethan Paschal (North Carolina): Paschal entered UNC at a good time following the graduation of several lineup mainstays, but has a formidable group to compete for lineup spots. He qualified for the Tarheels' lineup in 2 of 4 tournaments, finishing in the top-15 at the Williams Cup and a middle of the pack finish in the other. He also represented UNC in an individual event and scored another middle of the pack finish there. Paschal was known for getting streaky during his junior days, so expect more lineup participation from him if he gets hot in the spring. The UNC staff is looking for some scoring consistency behind the Ford brothers, as Paschal currently has a 74.33 scoring average.

8. William Ma (Harvard): Ma easily slots into lineup at Harvard, present in all four fall tournaments for a team that is out of the top-150. Harvard plays in tournaments with weaker fields; therefore, the Crimson expects production from Ma, and he has delivered. He finished in the top-10 at the Doc Gimmler, top-20 at the Columbia Invitational, and was 2nd at a four-team small two day event. Ma finished in the middle of the pack at the stronger field Hamptons Intercollegiate. Ma, with a 72.5 scoring average, should continue to lead Harvard as they look to move up in the rankings in the spring.

9. Ryan Downes (Vanderbilt): Like UNC, Vanderbilt graduated several lineup stalwarts and Downes was expected to step into the Commodore lineup. Another athlete coming off a 2024 junior season that wasn't up to his 2023 standards, Downes was able to qualify for the Vandy lineup in 3 of 4 tournaments. He has finished in the middle of the pack in three events with elite fields, with a 73 scoring average and counting scores in most rounds. If Vanderbilt hopes to challenge in match play at the NCAA championship in the spring, they expect Downes to go low and consistently contribute to the team.

10(T): Charlie Wylie (Texas Christian): As a top-10 recruit, Wylie had expectations of making the TCU lineup from the start of the season. He has delivered by qualifying for 5 of 6 tournaments, contributing counting scores in a majority of his rounds. He currently owns a 74.25 scoring average and has not cracked the top-50 in a tournament yet. TCU expects Wylie to continue acclimating to college golf and be a factor in their run to qualify for NCAAs this spring.

10(T)L Boston Bracken (Arizona State): Bracken decided to defer from the Sun Devils and take a two year mission trip.

Internationals: We had a solid top two signees, but did not rank the additional players due the vast difference in competition among different countries and continents. The fall results of the international players show that WAGR rankings for junior players is not the best indicator of collegiate success.

1. TK Chantananuwat (Stanford): Ranked at #46 at the time of his signing, Chantananuwat was widely known as one of the top juniors in the world, and had high expectations for his performance at Stanford. The young player enrolled a year early and made need a semester of adjustment to life in another country. With a 72.9 scoring average, he was in the starting five for 4 of 4 tournaments for the Cardinal. Chantananuwat's best finish was a top-20 at the elite field Ben Hogan Collegiate, and he had one middle of the pack finish in addition to a match play tournament appearance. If Coach Ray's team is to factor into the NCAA Championships, the freshman will be needed to contribute low scores consistently for the Cardinal.

2. Albert Hansson (Georgia Tech): Hansson is another highly regarded player who brought an extensive resume to the NCAA, sitting at #53 in WAGR upon signing with the Yellow Jackets. Hansson has started his college career by making the lineup in all five fall tournaments, his best finish at the small field, one-day East Lake Cup in third. Hansson notched a top-20 finish at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate and had two middle of the pack finishes with a 71.9 scoring average. A promising start to his collegiate career that he can build upon in the spring season, in which Georgia Tech will need his contribution to have a chance at returning to match play at NCAAs.

Matej Baca (Arizona): Baca was ranked #355 when he signed to join the Wildcats, a team familiar with international players. This fall, Baca qualified to 2 of 3 tournaments, with one middle of the pack finish. With a 74.2 scoring average, he looks to further adjust to collegiate golf and play a larger role for Arizona this spring.

Daniel Bennett (Texas): South African Bennett joined a strong roster of players at Texas this year, and was able to crack the lineup in the final 2 tournaments in the Longhorns 4-tournament fall season. He made the most of his first collegiate start, with a top-5 showing at the Ben Hogan Collegiate against an elite field. With only that tournament to compute his scoring average, as the second was match play format, his average sits at 68.3. Coach Fields hopes that Bennett, WAGR ranked #334 at signing, will build upon his late fall success and carry it into the spring season.

Gerry Gomez (Arkansas): Gomez hails from Mexico, but mainly played his junior career in the US, gracing the top-15 in all junior rankings metrics. It was expected for Gomez to contribute to lineups immediately, and he delivered by qualifying for 4 of 4 tournaments. With a 73.8 scoring average, Gomez's best showings were top-20 finishes at the Blessings Intercollegiate and the Jackson T Stephens Cup, both with strong fields. Gomez also delivered two middle of the pack results to show good consistency in his start to collegiate golf. He should be an important piece of the Arkansas lineup as they navigate the spring on the road to post season.

Connor Graham (Texas Tech): As the youngest player at the 2023 Walker Cup representing GB & I, Graham had high expectations placed on him as the 158th ranked player in WAGR when he signed with the Red Raiders. Graham was able to represent the team in all four tournaments and posted a 71.2 scoring average in his first fall season. His best finish was a top-15 at the Inverness Intercollegiate, and elite field event, and he notched two middle of the pack finishes. The fourth tournament was the Big 12 Match Play. Texas Tech will continue their expectations of Graham in the spring as they make a bid at match play at the NCAA Championships.

Taishi Moto (Arizona): Moto is not rostered at Arizona or any other school, and has been playing amateur events this fall.

Zihang (Mike) Qiu (Notre Dame): Qiu was one of the highest ranked international players at signing, with a WAGR rank of 116. He has qualified for 5 of 5 lineups for Notre Dame this fall, with a top-15 at the mid-level field Canadian Collegiate Invitational and three middle of the pack finishes. If Qiu can improve upon his 73.6 scoring average from the fall, he will greatly increase the Irish's chance of success in the post-season, as his contribution and consistency is needed in the lineup. He is another top player from Asia who may need time to adjust to the culture change and being so far from home.

Zachary Swanwick (Florida): New Zealander Swanwick, #256 when he signed with the Gators, was expected from the onset to challenge for a lineup spot, and was able to make the starting five in 3 of 4 events. He played solidly across his three events, his best result being a top-10 finish in a strong field at the Williams Cup. Swanwick also added two middle of the pack finishes to his early resume and finished the fall with a 72.7 scoring average. If Florida is to contend for a match play spot at NCAAs, consistent scoring and contribution from Swanwick would be a plus for Coach Deacon.

Peer Wernicke (Arizona State): Wernicke has produced arguably the best fall season of all freshman, with consistent play among a small but stellar roster of players for the Sun Devils. He has recorded three top-15 finishes: the Sahalee Players Championship, the Fighting Illini Collegiate, and the Ben Hogan Collegiate, all elite field events. Ranked #421 at signing, he proves that amateur rankings for juniors are not always the predictor of success. Playing in all four fall tournaments, Wernicke also had one middle of the pack finish. Coach Thurmond will be happy if Wernicke continues his fine play and scoring average of 71.3, which could help the Sun Devil team to a national championship.

Ziqin (Eric) Zhao (Cal Berkeley): Zhou was right ahead of Qiu in WAGR rankings at #111 on signing day, but his promise hasn't led to lineup spots on a crowded Cal roster. He recorded a 74 scoring average in his lone tournament, with a middle of the pack finish. Coach Wilson will welcome improvement from Zhou to bolster the Bears' chances in the post season.