Berglund Announces Inaugural Women’s Golf Signing Class
11/19/2024 11:10:00 AM | Women's Golf
HOUSTON — Rice women's golf coach Joanne Berglund announced on Tuesday its inaugural signing class for the 2025-26 school year.
Elisabeth Borsheim (Bergen, Norwary), Amelie Phung (New York, N.Y.), and Luning Yang (Chaing Mai) have joined the Owls for next year.
"This marks an exciting milestone for the university, as the program is set to begin competition in Fall 2026," said Berglund. From the moment I accepted the position at Rice my focus has been on recruiting young ladies who embody the "Rice Way," which reflects a culture of excellence, both academically and athletically. For the women's golf program, this philosophy will be a cornerstone of our team culture.
One of the first goals for our inaugural class will be to establish a culture of teamwork, accountability, and support. After spending time with these three young ladies, it became evident to me that their excitement, passion, discipline and resilience and clear focus on the long-term goal: excellence, will help shape the identity of the Rice Women's Golf Team. They all bring something special to our program and have proven themselves on the course and the classroom. The start of the women's golf program at Rice University represents more than just the addition of a new sport. It's an opportunity to create a legacy of excellence that will resonate for years to come, and I could not be more excited to have these three young ladies as our trailblazers!"
Borsheim has played her high school golf at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where she was named the IMG Player of the Year in 2023. This year, she has a 74.2 stroke average. She has five top 10 finishes on the Florida State Golf Association, including a tie for fifth at the Vero Beach Open in September. In July, she earned a runner-up finish at the Srixon Tour's Under-19 tournament in Losby, Norway.
Phung has played her high school golf at Florida Atlantic University High School in Boca Raton, Fla., helping it to the 2023 Florida State championship and a third-place finish at the National High School Championship. In 2022, she was named the Palm Beach County Player of the Year after winning the Honda Invitational, where she fired a 66. She also earned a runner-up finish at the state championship. This year, she has earned five top three finishes, including medalist honors at the Florida Junior Tour's MLK Major and the Labor Day Major. As a junior, she had a 72.8 stroke average and has improved that as a senior, where she has a stroke average of 70.0.
Yang has played for Prem Tinsulanonda International School in Chiang Mai, where she has been named a four-time Most Valuable Player, as well as a two-time Athlete of the Year. She's also a four-time member of the All-Athletic and All-Academic Teams. This year, she earned a runner-up finish at the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour's Hurricane Cup.
Elisabeth Borsheim (Bergen, Norwary), Amelie Phung (New York, N.Y.), and Luning Yang (Chaing Mai) have joined the Owls for next year.
"This marks an exciting milestone for the university, as the program is set to begin competition in Fall 2026," said Berglund. From the moment I accepted the position at Rice my focus has been on recruiting young ladies who embody the "Rice Way," which reflects a culture of excellence, both academically and athletically. For the women's golf program, this philosophy will be a cornerstone of our team culture.
One of the first goals for our inaugural class will be to establish a culture of teamwork, accountability, and support. After spending time with these three young ladies, it became evident to me that their excitement, passion, discipline and resilience and clear focus on the long-term goal: excellence, will help shape the identity of the Rice Women's Golf Team. They all bring something special to our program and have proven themselves on the course and the classroom. The start of the women's golf program at Rice University represents more than just the addition of a new sport. It's an opportunity to create a legacy of excellence that will resonate for years to come, and I could not be more excited to have these three young ladies as our trailblazers!"
Borsheim has played her high school golf at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where she was named the IMG Player of the Year in 2023. This year, she has a 74.2 stroke average. She has five top 10 finishes on the Florida State Golf Association, including a tie for fifth at the Vero Beach Open in September. In July, she earned a runner-up finish at the Srixon Tour's Under-19 tournament in Losby, Norway.
Phung has played her high school golf at Florida Atlantic University High School in Boca Raton, Fla., helping it to the 2023 Florida State championship and a third-place finish at the National High School Championship. In 2022, she was named the Palm Beach County Player of the Year after winning the Honda Invitational, where she fired a 66. She also earned a runner-up finish at the state championship. This year, she has earned five top three finishes, including medalist honors at the Florida Junior Tour's MLK Major and the Labor Day Major. As a junior, she had a 72.8 stroke average and has improved that as a senior, where she has a stroke average of 70.0.
Yang has played for Prem Tinsulanonda International School in Chiang Mai, where she has been named a four-time Most Valuable Player, as well as a two-time Athlete of the Year. She's also a four-time member of the All-Athletic and All-Academic Teams. This year, she earned a runner-up finish at the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour's Hurricane Cup.
WBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09
VB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02