UC Irvine standout Katelyn “KK” Kong has paired consistent college scoring with a rapid climb through elite amateur events. The psychology major earned All Big West honorable mention as a freshman with the best scoring average on the roster, then followed with a breakout year that includes a U S Women’s Open appearance, a California Women’s Amateur title, and deep runs in national events.
Career Highlights
- All Big West honorable mention for UC Irvine
- Team best scoring average of 73 point 15 in the 2024 to 2025 season
- Five top twenty college finishes with two inside the top ten
- Career low round of 68 at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational
- Competed in the eightieth U S Women’s Open at Erin Hills
- Champion of the fifty ninth California Women’s Amateur
- Reached the Round of sixteen at the U S Women’s Amateur
- WGCA All American Scholar
- Big West Golfer of the Month for October
Collegiate Results Snapshot
UC Irvine 2024 to 2025 Season
- All Big West honorable mention selection
- Twenty six rounds with a scoring average of 73 point 15
- Career best 68 in the third round of the Rainbow Wahine Invitational and tie for seventh at 211
- Tie for eleventh at the Big West Championships at 223
- Five top twenty finishes overall
Early 2025 to 2026 Results
- Tie for eighth at the Golf Iconic Classic
- Fourth at the Molly Collegiate Invitational
- Twenty eighth at the Golfweek Red Sky Classic
Kong has established herself as one of the most reliable scorers in the Big West while balancing a full academic load at a top public university.
Junior and Amateur Resume
Notre Dame High School – Sherman Oaks
- All Mission League selection
- Member of the 2021 undefeated league championship team
- Fourth at the CIF Division one tournament
- Second at the SCGA State Qualifier and advancement to the Southern California Regional State Finals
- Named Notre Dame Athlete of the Week
Junior Golf Highlights
- Third at the 2024 Toyota Tour Cup at Mission Hills North
- Third at the TTC Max Homa Invitational at Oak Valley
- Winner of the FCG Las Vegas Championship at Primm Valley
- Runner up at the 2023 Toyota Tour Cup at Redhawk
- Runner up at the Players Tour Two Day Summer Series number four
- Third at the Toyota Tour Cup Mary Cave Cup at Singing Hills
- Third at the 2022 Toyota Tour Cup at the Golf Club at Rancho California
- AJGA ranking of 292 and Junior Golf Scoreboard ranking of 53 in the class of 2024
Major Amateur Results
- Qualified for the eightieth U S Women’s Open at Erin Hills
- Reached the Round of sixteen at the U S Women’s Amateur
- Won the fifty ninth California Women’s Amateur, defeating Oregon’s Darae Chung four and three in the final while hitting all fifteen greens in regulation and missing only one fairway after driving through a short par four
Interview Highlights with CGN
Path into golf and early nerves
Kong started golf around age seven and a half through a family friend who introduced her to the game. Her parents did not play and mainly wanted her to stay active. As a young junior she disliked tournament nerves and often felt overwhelmed before rounds, but she kept practicing and trusted that consistent work would eventually show up in competition.
High school growth and team environment
At Notre Dame High School she became part of a strong lineup that included players she already knew from junior events. The fun but competitive team setting, along with success like an undefeated league title and state level finishes, helped her believe college golf could be a real option. By her sophomore year, after a solid fall that included travel to Poppy Hills and more events outside high school, she started to see herself at the Division one level.
College decision and choosing UC Irvine
Kong describes her recruiting process as longer and less direct than that of top ranked juniors. She emailed many programs, kept an open mind about location, and slowly narrowed her list. Staying in California was a preference for weather and proximity to home, but she still explored out of state options. Ultimately UC Irvine stood out for its academic reputation, golf program trajectory, and campus location, checking every box she wanted in a school.
Family influence and support
As an only child she credits her parents for steady, non pressuring support. They did not force practice or react harshly to poor rounds, instead allowing her to find her own attachment to the game. She appreciates the countless drives to tournaments and the freedom to choose golf for herself rather than out of obligation.
Managing nerves and pressure as a psychology major
Kong admits that nerves were a major factor in her early tournament experiences, but she learned to view pressure as something to train rather than avoid. Her approach is to keep placing herself in high stakes situations, accept that mistakes will happen, and remember that even professionals with greater practice hours falter on big stages. She aims for a balanced mindset where she cares about performance but does not let one round define her or her season.
Handling bad breaks and resetting after mistakes
When she ends up in a divot or catches a sudden gust of wind, Kong tries to laugh at the situation and recognize what is out of her control. She weighs her options, chooses the best shot for that moment, and then moves on, knowing that plenty of golf remains. A bad lie becomes a prompt to chase a birdie on the next hole rather than a reason to dwell on what went wrong.
Swing work, speed, and efficiency
Kong is currently focused on making her swing more efficient for both speed and distance. She uses frequent video checks to monitor key positions, pays attention to lower body sequencing, and emphasizes using the ground for power. In the gym she leans into heavier weights, explosive work, and rotational moves including medicine ball drills and jumping to build a stronger base. On the range she will occasionally hit a series of balls as fast as she can to train speed while still staying within a motion she can trust in competition.
Goals for the upcoming semester
Individually Kong wants to secure a college win after several close calls in the fall, with an emphasis on closing strong in final rounds. For the team she sees a clear opportunity to contend for the Big West title and earn an NCAA berth, especially with an upgraded schedule that should improve their position in rankings. She frames the spring as a chance to convert steady play into both individual and team trophies.