Fall Results of the Top-10 Class of 2025 Boys

11/22 CGC Staff

On signing day for the class of 2025, we introduced our final ranking for the top-10 American boys and featured a few of 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 many of them have produced solid results for their teams. 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. Henry Guan (Oklahoma State): Guan, who reclassified and graduated high school a year early, has been absent from both the lineup and the individual spot for the Cowboys, including a tournament when their starters were unavailable. He was expected, at the very least, to challenge for an individual spot for the NCAA champion who returns all starters from last season.

2. MIchael Riebe (Vanderbilt): The most consistent junior of the class of 2025 has played in all four Vanderbilt lineups, starting off with a top-5 finish at the Carmel Cup and a top-15 at the Invitational at the Honors. The 41st ranked player on Scoreboard also notched one middle of the pack finish. His success should be a key part of the Commodores NCAA success in the spring. Scoring average: 71.67

3. Will Hartman (Vanderbilt): Hartman has played as an individual in three events this fall. Currently ranked #511 in Scoreboard rankings, he has finished in the middle of the pack in all three events. With a tough-to-crack Commodore lineup, Hartman has the ability to be a lineup contributor if he can find his consistency. Scoring average: 73.38

4. Logan Reilly (Auburn): Reilly has appeared in two Auburn lineups and was 2nd at the Turtle Point Invitational as an individual. He has recorded one middle of the pack finish, ranked #207 at the end of the fall season. The Tigers would love him to find his 2024 form to make a run at NCAAs this spring. Scoring average: 71.33

5. Kihei Akina (BYU): The Cougars fully expected Akina to slide into one of the top spots in their lineup, and he has appeared in all five tournaments. Ranked at #105, Akina had a steady fall. He finished in the top-5 at the Preserve and notched two top-10 finishes at the Wohali and the Tindall. With a top-20 at the Blessings Invitational and one middle of the pack finish, the only thing keeping his ranking down is strength of field. Scoring average: 71.1

6. Carson Bertagnole (North Carolina): Bertagnole was the first top freshman to record a win, with a victory at the Fighting Irish Classic. Ranked #45, the talented freshman has been near the top of the lineup in all five Tarheel events. He notched a top-15 at the Jackson T Stephens Cup and top-20 at the Williams Cup. With two middle of pack finishes, he owns a 71.13 scoring average.

7. Jonathan Byrd (Clemson): Byrd, an important key to the Tigers’ success, began the season with a top-20 at the Myrtle Beach Intercollegiate, has missed the rest of the fall season due to injury.

8. Chase Kyes (Tennessee): Kyes has appeared in four tournaments, two in the lineup and two in the indy spot. Kyes has carded three middle of the pack finishes and is ranked #294. Scoring average: 72.67

9. Jake Albert (Auburn): The second half of the freshman Tiger duo, Albert has outperformed Reilly thus far. We expect the two junior standouts to battle for the #5 spot in the lineup as the post-season approaches. Ranked #128, Albert has held a lineup spot three times and the indy spot once, with a top-20 finish at the Clerico, one top-25, and two middle of the pack finishes. Scoring average: 70.50

10. Brooks Simmons (Texas): On a loaded roster, Simmons has not appeared in a tournament for the Longhorns this fall.

Several athletes who were honorable mentions on our list have had stellar starts to their career. UCLA’s Maye Huang is ranked #85 and has been a staple in the Bruin lineup. She has notched one win and two top-15 finishes. Her teammate Kacey Ly has also cracked the Bruin lineup four times, with four middle of the pack finishes. Columbia’s Kristina Xu’s ranking of #303 may not be indicative of her success due to low ranked fields, as she has won two tournaments and has one top-15 finish for the Lions. Florida’s Katelyn Huber has had a solid fall season, currently ranked #48. Her consistency includes two top-5 and one top-10 finish for the Gators against solid competition.

Watch list

We had five golfers on our watch list, and JD Culbreth of Georgia has performed the best with a #144 Scoreboard ranking and five lineup appearances. He has carded three top-10 finishes and two middle of the pack finishes for the Bulldogs. Bowen Mauss of Arizona State has made three lineups for the Sun Devils and appeared in one Indy tournament. He has carded one top-10, one top-20 and one top-25 finish. South Carolina’s Talan Harrison has competed in four tournaments for the Gamecocks, his best finish a top-20. Our final two picks, UCLA’s Joshua Kim and Texas’ Adam Villanueva, both finished in the middle of the pack in their one individual tournament appearance.

Internationals

This year’s class was a big thin on the international side in the junior rankings, with two top junior contenders. Florida’s Joshua Bai and Oregon State’s Nguyen Anh Minh both have appeared in one event this fall. The two international freshmen currently ranked in the top-100 are New Mexico's Emil Albers and Oregon’s Sebastian Desoisa.