Kiara Romero may have just turned pro, but she is already playing like someone who is well adjusted to the biggest stages in golf. The San Jose, California, native was the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world and the 2025 recipient of the Mark H. McCormack Medal, awarded to the leading female player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. She turned pro ahead of the 2026 CPCK Women’s Open played in Canada every year.

At the University of Oregon, Romero rewrote the record book. She became the first three-time first-team All-American in program history, owns Oregon’s record with six individual victories and has set the school’s single-season scoring record in each of her first three collegiate seasons.

Her golf accomplishments beyond college are just as impressive. Romero won the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship and has become a regular presence at professional majors. In 2026, she finished fourth at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur—the best finish ever by an Oregon player—before tying for sixth at the U.S. Women’s Open to earn low-amateur honors.

Golf is also a family affair. Her older sister, Kaleiya, is an Oregon assistant coach and competed alongside Kiara at the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open, making them just the ninth set of sisters to play in the championship in the same year.