Lakareber Abe,16, born April 16, 1996 in Houston, Texas. Her parents, Fiona and Daudi, emigrated from Uganda. Started playing golf at the age of 9 after he started to play. She and her sister, Terzira, go to school at the Jim McLean Golf Academy in Fort Worth. Graduates in 2014. Runner-up at the 2012 Under Armour®/ Vicky Hurst Championship, 2010 Sean O’Hair Junior All-Star Championship and 2009 Junior All-Star at Callaway Gardens. In four years with the AJGA, has had 7 top-10 finishes. Played in the 2010 WAPL. Enjoys listening to music and spends time with her family and friends.
Chirapat Jao-Javanil,19, born February 14, 1993, in Thailand. Lives in Norman, Okla. Nickname is Ja. Her parents are Chiravid and Chanasthorn Jao-Javanil. She’s a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma. Won the 2012 individual NCAA Division 1 Championship in Franklin, Tenn., the first female golfer to do so as a Sooner. Won two other titles in sophomore season (Central District Invitational, Golfweek Conference Challenge), the only women golfer in Oklahoma history to do so. Named to the All Big-12 team for the second straight year. Has 13 top-10 finishes and 18 top-20 finishes in two years at Oklahoma.
Alice Jeong, 17, born April 16, 1995, in Anaheim, Calif. Lives in Gardena, Calif. A rising senior at North Torrance High School. Her parents are David and Julia Jeong. Sisters are Anna and Linda. Won the 2011 56th Len Kenneth Junior Championship. Runner-up at the 2011 Emerson Junior Golf Classic. Won the 2010 60th Annual Gail Stockton memorial. Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam inspired her to play golf at the age of 12. She’s a second degree black belt in Taekwondo. Gave it up to play golf. Likes to play the ukulele and taught herself to play.
Kim Kimmy Kaufman,20, born August 16, 1991, in Huron, S.D. Lives in Clark, S.D. Will be a senior at Texas Tech University. Has had 7 top-10 finishes for Texas Tech in the two years she has played. Runner-up twice in her college career (2011 Susie Berning Maxwell Classic and 2012 Westbrook spring invitational). In 13 tournaments for the Red Raiders, has a stroke average of 73.0. This past season, became the first All-American women’s golfer, along with teammate Gabby Dominguez, for Texas Tech. Named to the Capital One Academic All-American team. Likes going to movies, shopping, traveling, reading, and watching sporting events, especially the Red Raiders.
Kyung Kim,18, born April 2, 1994, in Kahulul, Hawaii. Lives on the mainland in Chandler, Ariz. At age 8, her father persuaded her to pick up golf clubs. Will attend the University of Southern California in the fall. Played in the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open. Selected to the 2011 PING Junior Solheim Cup Team. Won the 2010 PING Phoenix Junior and the 2008 ReBath Heather Farr Classic. Runner-up at the 2010, 2008 PING Invitational, and 2009 Heather Farr Classic presented by Longbow Golf Club. Has 16 top-10 finishes from 2008-2012 AJGA seasons. Three-time Rolex Junior All-American.
Grace Na,19, born March 18,1993, in Temple, Texas. Lives in Oakland, Calif. Rising junior at Pepperdine University. Two-time All-American. Two-time WCC Player of the Year. On the All WCC-team twice. Set an NCAA record when she shot a 9-under 63 during the first round of the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown; One of nine players to shoot 9-under-par. Named in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" for her feat. During freshman year, was named WCC Freshman of the Year while only playing the spring season. WCC Championship medalist in 2011. Enjoys listening to music.
Annie Park,17, born April 9, 1995, in Levittown, N.Y. Rising senior at MacArthur High School. Will attend the University of Southern California in 2013. Playing in her first U.S. Women’s Open at Blackwolf Run in two weeks. Semifinalist at the 2011 WAPL at Bandon Dunes. In 2012, became the first girl to win the Nassau High School boys golf tournament. Won the 2011 Golfweek East Coast Junior Invitational and the AJGA Lessing’s Classic. Had two AJGA wins in 2008, the AJGA Cliffs Championship and CNL Lifestyle Company Championship. Three-time Rolex Junior All-American. Her mother knits all of the head covers for Annie’s clubs.
Ashlan Ramsey,16, born December 3, 1995 in Milledgeville, Ga. Nickname is the Silent Assassin because of her quiet demeanor on the golf course. Rising senior at John Milledge Academy. Gave a verbal commitment to Clemson University, which will start a women’s golf team next fall. The 2012 GISA AAA State Championship. Medalist for the boys and girls division. 2011 Georgia State Golf Association Junior Girls Co-Player of the Year. First-team Rolex Junior All-American. Played on the 2011 Ping Junior Solheim Team. Participates in Birdies-For-Charity through the AJGA and Leadership Links program; her charity is The Hunter Renfroe Fund.
Cassandra Stein is a communications intern for the USGA. Email her at cstein@usga.org.