USC and Stanford are all set to battle in the 2026 Division I National Championship today. While they are comfortably the two best teams right now, they also historically have developed some of the best players on the LPGA Tour, particularly in recent years. Here are the top five LPGA Tour players from USC and Stanford:
No. 5. Sophia Popov – USC – Since Popov has a major championship, it feels too tough to leave her off. Popov’s miracle win at the 2020 AIG Women’s Open is still one of the most shocking victories in the history of the sport, as she was ranked No. 304 in the world coming into the event. Popov followed that win up with a solid 2021 season, with three top-10 finishes, including a runner-up at Shadow Creek. While her post-major career hasn’t quite lived up to the thrills of that week, she is still such a notable figure in the sport.
No. 4. Andrea Lee – Stanford – While Andrea Lee doesn’t make a ton of headlines, she is quietly one of the most consistent players on the LPGA Tour. Lee has just one win but 23 top-10 finishes since 2020. Lee has finished in the top 60 of the CME Standings every year since 2022 with two top-25 finishes in that season-long race. In the Solheim Cup, Lee has established herself as a stable member of team USA, with a 3-2-2 record across two appearances.
No. 3. Lizette Salas – USC – Lizette Salas was such an essential figure in 2010’s American golf that many might be surprised she only has two career victories. Still, Salas was a fantastic player in her prime with 38 top-10 finishes, six of those coming in major championships. Salas also was a huge member of the United States Solheim Cup team, making five appearances and going 8-7-3. While Salas may not have the big wins on her resumé that many people may expect, she is still a top American player of the last decade.
No. 2. Allisen Corpuz – USC – What Corpuz may lack in consistency, she makes up for in big moments. Corpuz won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, one of the most watched women’s golf events in history. She has also been one of the strongest Solheim Cup competitors ever, going 5-2-1 in her two appearances. While Corpuz has just the one win, she also has an additional two top-10 finishes in majors and 15 top-10s overall. Corpuz has been in solid form this year as well, with four top-13 finishes in nine starts.
No. 1. Rose Zhang – Stanford – While injuries, an inconsistent schedule and some flat out bad play has plagued Rose Zhang over the last year, she still is one of the biggest stars in golf. Zhang has two wins across her three and a half years on the LPGA Tour. She’s also represented the United States at the Solheim Cup twice and in the Paris Olympics. Zhang was arguably the MVP of the 2024 Solheim Cup team, going 4-0-0. Even though Zhang has struggled over the last year, there has been signs of good form moving forward.
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