Golfweek Preseason Women’s Team Rankings 2022-2023

The busy summer amateur season has faded to fall as schools across the country are back in session, which means college golf is back in season.

Stanford, the defending national team champions with a loaded roster that includes the last two individual national champions – as well as a star incoming freshman – is no surprise at No. 1 and boasts massive depth even past its starting five. Last year’s NCAA runner-up Oregon also finds itself inside the top five, as well as Wake Forest, who will see a former player and All-American return to the roster after a year off.

Check out the top 30 teams entering the 2020-21 college golf season.

1. Stanford

The defending national champions return four starters and add a freshman phenom in Megha Ganne. Need we say more?

Stanford celebrates at the 2022 NCAA Championship. (Photo: Darren Reese/Stanford)

2. Oregon

If a couple putts drop and matches get flipped, Oregon could have hoisted the national championship trophy last year after coming up just short against Stanford. The Ducks return three starters but will need to replace Heather Lin and Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen with quality players if they want another shot at the title.

Oregon’s Hsin-Yu (Cynthia) Lu. (Photo: Oregon Women’s Golf)

3. Wake Forest

At times over the past few seasons Wake Forest has played like the best team in the nation. This season could be when it all comes together. Led by seniors Rachel Kuehn and Lauren Walsh, along with sophomore Carolina Chacarra, the Demon Deacons have a potent 1-2-3 and will also see graduate student and former All-American Emilia Migliaccio return to the squad.

Rachel Kuehn. (Photo: Wake Forest Women’s Golf)

4. South Carolina

Hannah Darling and Louise Rydqvist played well as freshman and will need to take another step forward if South Carolina is to live up to its potential. The Gamecocks performed as a top-five team for most of last season and add USC transfer Katherine Muzi as a senior leader alongside Mathilde Claisse.

South Carolina’s Hannah Darling. (Photo: South Carolina Athletics)

5. UCLA

UCLA losing Emma Spitz is a big blow, but few teams are as deep as the Bruins with seniors Annabel Wilson and Emilie Paltrinieri, junior Ty Akabane and sophomores Alessia Nobilio, Caroline Canales and Zoe Campos all primed to…