Chong, No. 2 USC Women’s Golf Wins Inaugural GameAbove Invitational

Tuesday, March 10

Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.

7:50 a.m. PT

USC

GameAbove Invitational

Photo by: Brenton Tse

Chong, No. 2 USC Women’s Golf Wins Inaugural GameAbove Invitational

March 10, 2026 | Women's Golf

Final Team Leaderboard Final Player Leaderboard

Kylie Chong won her second career tournament while USC won its third tournament of the year.

ROLLING HILLS ESTATES, Calif. — If there was pressure on the No. 2 USC Women's Golf team for winning the GameAbove Invitational at its home course, no one showed it.

Capping off a dominant tournament win, the Trojans won the inaugural GameAbove Invitational with an 842 (-22) and sophomore Kylie Chong took home the individual title after the final round at Rolling Hills Country Club on Tuesday, March 10.

As if co-hosting the inaugural GameAbove Invitational wasn't memorable enough, the Trojans achieved several milestones in the win. Head Coach Justin Silverstein recorded his 30th tournament win as USC's head coach, Chong won her second-career tournament with a 205 (-11) and the team's 842 (-22) was tied for the ninth-best score relative to par in program history. So far, USC has won three tournaments this season and three different Trojans have taken home medalist honors (Kylie Chong twice, Caroline Park and Jasmine Koo).

Competing in more favorable conditions under overcast skies, the Trojans put together a third round under par with a 279 (-9) — the second best of the day — and had a 12-stroke lead over runner-up No. 4 Texas A&M. All four scoring Trojans finished in the top 10: Chong led the way in first place, Bailey Shoemaker placed second with a 209 (-7), plus Catherine Park and Sarah Hammett tied for sixth with 216s (E).

Beginning the day atop the leaderboard, Chong maintained her lead by firing a bogey-free 68 (-4) at Rolling Hills Country Club. Chong had two birdies in her first four holes before finishing at par for the next 11 holes. She lowered her score once more with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 before two-putting for par on the par-4 No. 18 and kicking off a celebration from her teammates.

As the only other Trojan to record three rounds under par in the tournament, Shoemaker held steady in second place throughout the round by firing a 70 (-2). Shoemaker bounced back from a bogey on the par-four No. 4 with a birdie on the par-4 No. 5. She finished the back side with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 15 and 16 to cap off her round.

Park finished the GameAbove Invitational in a six-way tie for sixth with a 216 (E). The senior found trouble on the front side with bogey and a double bogey before two birdies on the back side wrapped up her 73 (+1) in the final round.

The biggest mover for the Trojans in the final round, freshman Sarah Hammett moved up 16 places to join Park in a tie for sixth place. Her 68 (-4) in the final round was the best round in her collegiate career. Hammett's lone bogey of the round came on the par-4 No. 6, but the Australian responded with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 7 and 8 before making the turn. Hammett finished with three birdies on the back side to wrap up her second round in the 60s of the season.
Competing as an individual, sophomore Jasmine Koo finished in a tie for 23rd with a 223 (+7) after firing a 75 (+3) in the final round. Fellow sophomore Elise Lee was one stroke behind in a tie for 27th with a 224 (+8).

Rounding out the Trojans, freshman Chloe Kim finished in a tie for 46th with a 232 (+16).

From here, the Trojans will head to the Hawai'ian Islands to compete in the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, hosted by the University of Hawai'i at the Klipper Golf Course from March 17-18. All pertinent schedule updates can be found on the women's golf team's schedule page on usctrojans.com.

GAMEABOVE INVITATIONAL

ROLLING HILLS COUNTRY CLUB

ROLLING HILLS ESTATES, CALIF.

MARCH 10, 2026/PAR 72/6,564 YARDS

INDIVIDUAL SCORES
1. Kylie Chong, -11 (71-66-68=205)
2. Bailey Shoemaker, -7 (68-71-70=209)
T6. Catherine Park, E (74-69-73=216)
T6. Sarah Hammett, E (71-77-68=216)
T23. Jasmine Koo (I), +7 (76-72-75=223)
T27. Elise Lee, +8 (73-74-77=224)
T46. Chloe Kim (I), +16 (78-77-77=232)

TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. No. 2 USC, -22 (283-280-279=842)
2. No. 4 Texas A&M, -10 (291-286-277=854)
3. No. 3 Oregon, +11 (288-298-289=875)
T4. SMU, +13 (288-300-289=877)
T4. Eastern Michigan, +13 (300-285-292=877)
T4. Arizona, +13 (296-294-287=877)
7. No. 11 UCLA, +19 (303-294-286=883)
8. Tulsa, +28 (287-302-303=892)
9. Colorado, +38 (304-299-299=902)
10. Long Beach State, +49 (308-300-305=913)
11. Hawai'i, +82 (314-312-320=946)

FOLLOW THE TROJANS
For more information on the USC women's golf team, a complete schedule, and results, please visit USCTrojans.com. Fans of the Trojans can follow the team on Instagram and on X @USCWomensGolf.