University of Louisville women’s golf head coach Whitney Young is set to be inducted into the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2024, as announced by the organization’s selection committee on Tuesday. A native of Glasgow, Kentucky, Young has led the Cardinals to continued success during her five-year tenure as head coach.
Young has been with the Louisville program for a total of seven seasons, initially serving as an assistant coach under Courtney Trimble for two years before taking over as head coach following Trimble’s retirement. During her time at Louisville, she has mentored some of the most accomplished players in the program’s history, including Lauren Hartlage, who recently finished fifth at the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Under Young’s guidance, Hartlage became the fourth All-American in Louisville’s history and the first player in the program to be a four-time All-ACC recipient. Hartlage earned honorable mention All-American honors in 2020 and second-team All-American recognition in 2021. During the 2021 season, Hartlage advanced to the NCAA Championship, finishing tied for 12th overall.
The Cardinals have reached two NCAA Regionals as a team during Young’s tenure, including hosting a regional for the first time in program history in 2021. Young also coached Kendall Griffin, who secured a third-place finish at the 2022 ACC Championship—the highest individual finish by a Louisville player in the ACC Championships.
Before her coaching career, Young enjoyed a successful professional playing career, registering nine Top-10 finishes in 47 starts on the FUTURES Tour from 2008-2010. In 2009, she won the Duramed Tour Championship with a 9-under-par 204, finishing sixth on the FUTURES Tour money list to earn her LPGA Tour card for the 2010 season. Young also competed in three U.S. Open events, qualifying for her first as a high school player in 2003 and later earning spots in 2008 and 2011.
As a collegiate golfer at the University of Georgia, Young was a three-time National Golf Coaches Association All-American and a four-time First Team All-SEC honoree. She recorded three Top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships and posted a career stroke average of 74.21, ranking sixth in program history. She played a key role in leading the Bulldogs to 10 team titles, including the 2007 SEC Championship.
Young’s junior golf career was equally impressive, earning four AJGA Polo Golf All-American honors, including first-team recognition in 2002. She secured eight victories and eight additional Top-10 finishes in 23 AJGA and national events from 1999-2003. Young represented the United States on the PING Junior Solheim Cup Team in 2002.
Young first gained national attention as a fourth-grader, representing Glasgow High at the 1994 Kentucky State Championships. She became the youngest winner of the Kentucky Amateur at just 13 years old in 1998, a title she would go on to win again in 1999 and 2000.
Young and the rest of the 2024 Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted later this year, with more details on the ceremony to be announced at a later date.
