Kentucky women’s golf is off to a hot start as it racked up two individual wins, and two top three team finishes in its first two starts.

Sophomore Anastasia Hekkonen and junior Cathryn Brown found themselves at the top of the leaderboard in their first two starts of the fall season.

The 2025 season started in Grand Haven, Mich., when Kentucky played in the Folds of Honor Collegiate at American Dunes Golf Club. Hekkonen led the field early as she carded a round one score of 66 (6-under). During round two, she maintained consistency and kept the top spot as she fired an even-par round of 72.

On the last day of play, Hekkonen fired a round three score of 71 (1-under). She also went on to win the event by a dominant four strokes and helped the team place third.

In a tie for second place was her teammate Brown, who posted a 73, 71 and 69.

Just 12 days later, Kentucky was back in competition at the Johnie Imes Invitational. The event was held at The Club at Old Hawthorne, located in Columbia, Mo.

Due to weather, the third round of competition was canceled, which ultimately led to Brown being crowned champion for the first time in her collegiate career. Kentucky placed second as a team with a score of 3-under.

Brown posted a 64 (8-under) and a 73 (1-over) in the two rounds. She finished 7-under for the event. Hekkonen also found her way back in the top 10 as she finished seventh overall with a 70 (2-under) and a 74 (2-over). She finished with a score of even par.

This marked the first time that Kentucky had more than one individual and back-to-back champions in a season since 2018–19. Leonie Bettel claimed three wins, and Rikke Svejgård Nielsen claimed one.

The Wildcats will next compete at the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C. The tournament will be hosted by North Carolina at Finley Golf Club on Oct. 17–19.