CGN Player Highlight and Interview: Kylie Chong’s Breakout Season Ahead of the GameAbove Golf Invitational

USC sophomore Kylie Chong enters the spring portion of the collegiate season as one of the Trojans’ most consistent contributors, bringing a decorated junior golf background and rapid collegiate development into the inaugural GameAbove Golf Invitational.

A Torrance, California native, Chong first learned the game at nearby Alondra Park Golf Course at age seven after being introduced to golf by her father, a former baseball player who saw similarities between the baseball swing and golf mechanics. Early rounds at local Los Angeles area courses helped build both her competitiveness and enjoyment of the sport.

Her early development included instruction from local coach Mike Donovan, who emphasized short game fundamentals, before later working with swing coach Don Brown as her game progressed. Chong’s commitment to improvement accelerated during the COVID period, when practice time at home and strength development helped elevate her game entering her teenage years.

Elite Junior Career

Chong quickly emerged as one of the top junior players in the country, climbing to No. 14 in the AJGA Girls Rankings and earning Rolex Junior All American honors twice.

Her junior accomplishments include:

• Winner of the 2023 AJGA Junior at Hot Springs
• Eleven AJGA top ten finishes
• Runner up at the 2023 California Women’s Championship
• Member of Team USA at the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup

Competing in the Junior Ryder Cup became one of the defining experiences of her amateur career, providing exposure to international team competition and one of the largest stages in junior golf.

Choosing USC

During the recruiting process, Chong prioritized a program that balanced strong academics, high level coaching, and proximity to home. Remaining in Southern California allowed her to train year round while staying connected to her support system.

USC’s coaching staff and developmental approach ultimately played a major role in her decision. The program’s emphasis on player development and data driven preparation aligned with Chong’s long term goals as she transitioned into collegiate golf.

Immediate Freshman Impact

Chong made an immediate impact during her freshman season at USC in 2024–25, starting all 12 tournaments for the Trojans.

She finished the year with a 74.26 stroke average while recording seven rounds of par or better and counting 23 of her 35 rounds toward the team score.

Freshman season highlights included:

• Two top ten finishes
• Four top twenty five finishes
• Tied for fourth at the Chevron Silverado Showdown at four under
• Lowest round of 68
• Lowest 54 hole score of 212
• A key extra hole win at the East Lake Cup semifinals from the number five position
• 3 and 1 match play record

Sophomore Breakout

Chong has elevated her performance significantly during the 2025–26 season, lowering her scoring average to 71.35 while producing several of the best rounds of her collegiate career.

Sophomore season highlights include:

• Three top ten finishes
• Three rounds in the 60s
• Low round of 66
• Tied for first at the Golfweek Red Sky Classic
• Tied for sixth at the East Lake Cup in stroke play
• Four of her five lowest collegiate rounds occurring this season

The improvement reflects increased comfort within the collegiate environment as well as a refined tournament preparation system developed during a busy summer schedule that included seven competitive events and a victory at the SCGA Women’s Amateur.

Event Focus: GameAbove Golf Invitational

Chong and USC will be among the teams competing at the inaugural GameAbove Golf Invitational, hosted by USC and Eastern Michigan at Rolling Hills Country Club in Rolling Hills Estates, California.

Rolling Hills features a links style layout with wide fairways, expansive greens, firm playing conditions, and potential coastal wind, making strategic ball placement and adaptability key factors throughout the tournament.

As a co host, USC enters the week with significant familiarity with the venue, practicing frequently at Rolling Hills while preparing for the event.

The tournament is designed to showcase elite women’s collegiate golf while bringing together highly ranked programs from across the country in one of the strongest early spring fields.

CGN will provide livestream coverage of Round 2 on March 9 and the Final Round on March 10.

Career Snapshot

School: University of Southern California
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Torrance, California
High School: Ambassador High School
Major: Business Administration
Clippd Ranking: 29