Rachel Kuehn Reflects On Her Time At Wake Forest

Alex Elias

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Wake Forest Women’s Golf

A senior at Wake Forest University (Winston Salem, NC), Rachel Kuehn has firmly established herself as one of the top collegiate golfers in the nation. Ranked No. 4 in the Women's World Amateur Golf Rankings, Kuehn was named the 2022 ACC Player of the Year and earned a spot on the 2022 WGCA First Team All-American list. Recently, she notched her sixth career victory, further solidifying her reputation as a rising star in the golf world.
Given Kuehn’s unprecedented success, her amateur ranking, and her recent inclusion on the ANNIKA Award Watch List (honors the player of the year in women’s college golf), she has set an incredibly high standard for herself. However, Kuehn humbly admitted that despite these accolades, she doesn’t feel the weight of pressure.
"I think that I have come to realize that all I can control is what I do. I can control the work I put in, the attitude I have, and the effort I give on the course. Sometimes you have your A game and sometimes you don’t. If I go out and give myself the best chance to succeed, then there’s no pressure because I know I have done everything I can," said Kuehn.

Chris Keane/USGA

In addition to her success as a Demon Deacon, Kuehn has made her mark on several prestigious events, including a seventh-place finish at the Augusta National Women's Amateur, reaching the Round of 16 at the 2022 U.S. Women's Amateur, and securing the winning point for the U.S. Curtis Cup team twice (2021 & 2022).

"Every event is an opportunity to improve. Tournaments like the Curtis Cup and the U.S. Am, in particular, allow me to focus on refining my match play skills and mindset. Whether the results are good or bad, each experience provides valuable lessons for growth," ​said Kuehn.

Wake Forest Women’s Golf

As Kuehn approaches graduation, she reflected on her time at Wake Forest, saying, "I have loved every minute here. I’ve developed a second family, and choosing Wake was the best decision I could have ever made. It’s given me the opportunity to grow both as a person and a player. I’m grateful to my coaches for giving me the chance to play here."

When asked where she believes she’s made the most improvement during her time in Winston-Salem, Kuehn shared, "I think my putting has improved the most since I arrived. It’s been a long process of finding a routine that works for me when I practice. I always make sure to focus on my start line and speed, and I’ve incorporated performance drills into my routine as well."

As Kuehn and #1 Wake Forest turn their attention to defending their ACC Title (April 13-16) and aiming for the NCAA Women's Golf Championship (May 19-24), Kuehn said, "Our goal is obviously to win a National Championship in May, but we know that all the hard work we've put in this year will give us the best chance at achieving that."