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 nation’s top collegiate golfers. Ranked No. 4 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings, she was named the 2022 ACC Player of the Year and earned a spot on the 2022 WGCA First Team All-American list. Her recent sixth career victory further cemented her reputation as one of the game’s best.

Given Kuehn’s unprecedented success, her amateur ranking, and her recent inclusion on the ANNIKA Award Watch List (honoring the player of the year in women’s college golf), she has set an exceptionally high standard for herself. Yet, Kuehn humbly admitted that despite these accolades, she doesn’t feel weighed down by pressure.

“I’ve come to realize that all I can control is what I do—my work, my attitude, and the effort I give on the course. Sometimes I have my A game, and sometimes I don’t. If I go out and give myself the best chance to succeed, there’s no pressure because I know I’ve 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 and 2022).

“Every event is an opportunity to improve. Tournaments like the Curtis Cup and the U.S. Amateur, 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 as 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.”
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As Kuehn and No. 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.”