Rachel Kuehn is a freshman at Wake Forest University. The 18-year-old made her collegiate debut at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M in September and won the individual title in dominating fashion while helping to lead the Demon Deacons to a team victory. Since the ANNIKA Intercollegiate, she recorded a top-10 finish at the Lady Paladin Invitational and placed 13th in the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invite. We caught up with Rachel recently and discussed the transition from junior to college golf, emotions after her first collegiate win and much more.
What are the three best words to describe yourself?
Competitive, organized, extroverted
What is your favorite course you have played so far?
El Caballero Country Club in Los Angeles.
How did you start playing golf?
My mother played in college and professionally and she introduced us to the game at a very young age.
If you could only have one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Cheese pizza
How are you adjusting to the student-athlete life? Do you have any tips to share that help balance golf and school?
The adjustment has been great. One tip I have would be to take advantage of all your free time to get some work done.
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not playing golf?
I like to play tennis.
Who is your biggest role model and why?
My mom is my biggest role model because she is the most motivated, driven, selfless person I know. She is everything I aspire to be.
What is something that not many people know about you?
There was a time in the recruiting process when I told my parents that I would never go to Wake Forest.
What is your greatest memory of playing golf so far?
The late afternoon family matches are some of my favorite memories. Also, winning the ANNIKA Intercollegiate is a close second.
You started your freshman career off strong with a win at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate. How did that set the tone and your thoughts for the rest of year?
It proved to myself that I can compete with the best collegiate players in the country. It also showed me that I shouldn’t be satisfied with a top-10 or top-5.
Your first fall season is coming to an end. Can you tell us a little bit about your time spent so far with the Wake Forest team?
We have an amazing team. We are so close and get along so well. We always laugh and have fun. With that said, we work hard and push each other to get better every day.
When you are practicing on your own, how long does a typical practice last? What are you focus points?
My practices typically last 4-5 hours with an emphasis on putting, particularly inside 8 feet.
What would you say is your favorite part about playing of golf?
I love the friendships I have made and continue to make with amazing people.
Outside of the skills of the game, what has golf taught you about life?
Golf has taught me so much about how to handle my emotions and how to carry myself.
Do you have any advice to give to aspiring female golfers who are just starting to play the game?
Make sure to enjoy it and not let it become a job. It’s supposed to be fun, so you should play for the fun of the game.
Rachel’s 13-under total at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate marked a Wake freshman record. We are confident in saying it will likely be one of many records she will break during her time in Winston-Salem. Between it being her first collegiate tournament and the ANNIKA Intercollegiate’s strong field, it would be natural for an athlete to feel some pressure -- but not Rachel. When asked what she did to calm her nerves, she said “I use it (pressure) to help me focus more, but at the end of the day, I just try to enjoy myself because golf really is just a game.” We look forward to seeing what she does next during her spring season!