Vietnam Golf on the journey to conquer NCAA: Top training system and million-dollar scholarships

TPO - More and more young Vietnamese golfers are realizing their dream of conquering the NCAA - the prestigious American university sports system, which has produced a series of world golf legends. With a comprehensive training model, combining academics and sports with scholarships worth up to millions of USD each year, NCAA is becoming the "golden destination" for a generation of Vietnamese golfers with aspirations to reach international level.

Báo Tiền Phong•17/10/2025

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler plays for the University of Texas in the NCAA.

When it comes to the dream of becoming a professional golfer, people often talk about the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour or Masters. But few people know that most of the stars standing on the podium of glory today started from the courses of the NCAA system - which is considered the "university of world golf".

NCAA Golf (National Collegiate Athletic Association Golf) is not just a school sports tournament, but a comprehensive training system that combines sports, education and personal development.

There are currently nearly 1,000 universities across the United States participating in NCAA Golf, divided into 3 levels: Division I, II, III, along with dozens of schools in the NAIA and NJCAA systems. The total value of golf scholarships awarded each year is estimated to be more than 1.2 billion USD, including tuition, living expenses and international competition support.

Specifically, according to 2022 statistics, NCAA Division I men's golf teams have a maximum of 4.5 full scholarships per team, while women's golf teams have a maximum of 6. Major schools such as Stanford University, University of Georgia, Oklahoma State University, Arizona State University... all have strong golf teams, which are "training grounds" for world talent.

From here, a series of legends have grown up: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jack Nicklaus, Brooks Koepka, Scottie Scheffler, Rose Zhang, or Lilia Vu - LPGA Tour champion of Vietnamese origin.

Vietnam's No. 1 golfer Nguyen Anh Minh will compete for Oregon State University at NCAA.

One of the unique features that makes NCAA Golf so prestigious is its parallel development model between academics and sports . Athletes are not only trained in golf techniques but also equipped with leadership skills, tactical thinking, nutrition and competition psychology.

Therefore, many golfers after graduation, even if they do not become professional athletes, can still participate in other professions in the golf industry, from coaching, golf course design, to international sports event management.

For American college coaches, athlete selection is not only based on talent but also focuses on achievements in international youth tournaments, especially the AJGA Rolex Ranking or WAGR (World Amateur Golf Ranking).

Therefore, the access of young Vietnamese golfers to the AJGA International Pathway Series (IPS) system right at home will open a wider door than ever to enter the NCAA. Instead of having to compete in the US at a high cost, athletes can score directly in the NCAA-recognized rankings, creating opportunities to receive scholarships and compete for top university teams.

Currently, Vietnam has had excellent representatives who have followed this path: Truong Chi Quan (University of Oregon), Nguyen Thao My (University of North Carolina), Doan Xuan Khue Minh, and the next generation such as Nguyen Anh Minh (Oregon State University), Doan Uy (UTA Tech University) or Le Chuc An (University of Tennessee).

Each name is not only the pride of Vietnamese golf, but also clear proof that, with the right strategy and roadmap, the "NCAA dream" is completely within reach.