D3 Golfers Prove They Belong Among the Best

Division III sports may not have the biggest linemen on their football team or the tallest basketball players on the court, but more and more we are seeing Division III golfers hold their own with some of the best golfers in the nation. Over the summer Gustavus golfer Jimmy Abdo made headlines by reaching the Quarterfinals at the U.S. Amateur Championship. Additionally, former George Fox golfer Alison Takamiya recently made her debut on the LPGA Tour. Having these two Division III golfers compete (and win!!) against some of the best golfers in the country shows just how rich the talent in D3 Golf really is. 

Jimmy Abdo: current golfer at Gustavus Adolphus

Jimmy Abdo decided to go to a U.S. Amateur qualifier in Iowa for a fun few days before he headed back to college at Gustavus Adolphus…and ended up qualifying for the tournament. This started an incredible journey where a 4292 ranked amateur made it to the Quarterfinals by defeating more highly ranked golfers such as Auburn recruit Logan Reilly and former University of Houston golfer Wolfgang Glawe. Jimmy Abdo showed resilience and tenacity during his journey at the U.S. Amateur…and that a D3 golfer with something to prove can compete against anyone.

Alison Takamiya: graduate from George Fox University

Alison Takamiya began her road to The Standard Portland Classic at the Amateur Open at Columbia Edgewater in June. She birdied the first 5 holes and ended up tying for medalist with a 5-under 67 against a field stacked with Division I stars, including Kara Romero from Oregon who was currently ranked #1 in women’s Division I golf. Although Takamiya lost the playoff for a direct exemption into The Standard Portland Classic, she secured her spot through the LPGA Monday qualifier. At the qualifier, Takamiya shot another 67 at Columbia Edgewater against a field that included 17 professional golfers. Although Takamiya missed making the cut at The Standard Portland Classic (by just 2 strokes), she is believed to be the first D3 player to ever get into an LPGA event by qualifying through a Monday qualifier. This is a huge breakthrough for female D3 golfers!

Although Takamiya might be paving a new road for D3 golfers making it into the LPGA ranks, Abdo is following in the footsteps of former Christopher Newport golfer Alex Price, who also reached the Quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur in 2022. It’s amazing that a Division III golfer has been among the top 16 amateurs in the nation in 2 of the last 4 U.S. Amateur Championships.

The talent level in Division III golf continues to rise, with players increasingly making their mark on the national stage. The recent success stories of Alison Takamiya and Jimmy Abdo highlight this growth and showcase the high caliber of athletes emerging from Division III golf. Their stories underscore just how far Division III golf has come over the past couple of decades, and their achievements reflect a broader trend of Division III golfers being able to compete and win against the best of the best!