ROSEMONT, Ill. – Continuing the program’s tradition of success, Purdue Women’s Golf has at least one Boilermaker on the All-Big Ten teams for the 30th consecutive season. Following a vote from the league’s coaches, sophomore Samantha Brown was named Second Team All-Big Ten to earn all-league honors for the first time in her career, while Luana Valero earned a spot on the conference’s inaugural all-freshman team.
Since the conference went to two All-Big Ten teams in 2003, 63 Boilermakers have earned all-league distinction. Purdue has had an All-Big Ten golfer on its team every season since the 1996-97 campaign.
Brown has led the Boilermakers throughout the season in several categories: stroke average (72.61), team-low rounds (18) Top 10 finishes (5), rounds of par-or-better (18), birdies (100) and rounds in the 60s (6). Her six rounds in the 60s are tied for a single-season school record. The sophomore has played her best golf in the spring, racking up four Top 5 finishes over the past six tournaments. Brown earned Big Ten Golfer of the Week honors after guiding the Boilermakers to a victory at the 2025 Coach Mo Classic. She tied for third with a 3-under 213 (75-66-72) for her best finish as a Boilermaker and her lowest 54-hole total. Her second round 66 (-6) was a personal best and matched the fifth-lowest round in program history.
Valero proved to be not only one of the best freshmen in the conference, but one of the best golfers in the Big Ten by placing fourth at last week’s B1G Championships. Her three-day total of 210 (67-69-74) was the second-lowest 54-hole tally by a Boilermaker competing in the conference tournament, and it was the lowest of her career. Valero led the B1G field with 12 birdies, while ranking second in par-4 scoring (-1) throughout the week. Cracking the lineup in all 12 tournaments as a freshman, she holds a 73.79 stroke average that currently ranks as the fourth-best by a freshman in program history. Valero’s three rounds in the 60s and three Top 10 finishes rank third and fifth, respectively, by Purdue freshmen all-time. She also been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times this season.
For her positive interactions with her playing competitors throughout the yea, junior Ashley Kim was selected as Purdue’s Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree. The Arkansas State transfer has been in the lineup in all 12 tournaments this season, recording a 73.61 stroke average to rank third on the team.
Purdue also finds out its destination for NCAA Regional play on Wednesday. The field will be announced on the Golf Channel at 4 p.m. ET.
First Team All-Big Ten (Alphabetical)
Tong An, Oregon
Kylie Chong, USC
Jasmine Koo, USC
Elise Lee, USC
Jen Lee, UCLA
Kacey Ly, UCLA
Nellie Ong, Ohio State
Catherine Park, USC
Kiara Romero, Oregon
Bailey Shoemaker, USC
Second Team All-Big Ten (Alphabetical)
Samantha Brown, Purdue
Madison Dabagia, Indiana
Sophie Eppelstun, Ohio State
Paula Balenzategui Garcia, Michigan State
Sophie Han, Oregon
Taylor Kehoe, Michigan State
Dianna Lee, Northwestern
Isabella McCauley, Minnesota
Mariana Mesones, Minnesota
Meghan Royal, UCLA
All-Freshman Team (Alphabetical)
Sophie Eppelstun, Ohio State
Sarah Hammett, USC
Sophie Han, Oregon
Kacey Ly, UCLA
Luana Valero, Purdue
Sportsmanship Honorees
Illinois: Anna Ritter
Indiana: Sheridan Clancy
Iowa: Lily Huether
Maryland: Anna Pillard
Michigan: Mara Janess
Minnesota: Madison Le
Michigan St: Shannon Kennedy
Nebraska: Hannah Kono
Northwestern: Lauren E. Lee
Ohio State: Sophie Eppelstun
Oregon: Darae Chung
Penn State: Mara King
Purdue: Ashley Kim
Rutgers: Grace Lu
UCLA: Kacey Ly
USC: Catherine Park
Washington: Carmen Lim
Wisconsin: Alexia Siehl
