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Head Coach Carrie Forsyth
CARRIE FORSYTH
Head Coach 24th Season UCLA ‘94
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Career Highlights
• NGCA Coaches Hall of Fame (2011) • 2-time NCAA Champion (2004, 2011) • WGCA National Coach of the Year (2004) • Golfweek National Coach of the Year (2011) • 4-time WGCA Regional Coach of the Year (2004, 2010, 2012, 2018) • 6-time Pac-10/12 Coach of the Year (2002, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2018) • 5-time Pac-10/12 Champion (2004, 2005, 2006, 2017, 2018)
Biography
Having led the Bruins to a pair of NCAA Championships, while coaching players to 106 AllAmerican awards and six conference Golfer of the Year accolades, Carrie Forsyth begins her 24th season leading the UCLA women’s golf program in 2022-23.
Under Forsyth, the Bruins have won NCAA Championships in 2004 and 2011, and have finished runner-up three more times in 2005, 2008 and 2009. UCLA has finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships in 15 of the last 21 Championships held, including 2016 and 2018 when it won the stroke-play competition. In addition to the pair of national championships, Forsyth has also led the Bruins to eight NCAA Regional crowns, including back-to-back wins three times (2002, 2004-05, 2008-09, 2011-12, 2014).
The Bruins have claimed five Pac-10/12 Conference titles, winning the league championship in 2017 and 2018. In 2017, UCLA was the only team to finish in red figures and won by 21 strokes. A year later, the Bruins again were the only squad to score under par, winning by 12 shots. UCLA also won back-to-back-to-back Pac-10 titles in 2004, 2005 and 2006. The Bruins have placed in the top 3 of the conference on 15 occasions. Five Bruins have won the conference individual championship: Charlotte Mayorkas (2004), Tiffany Joh (2007), Alison Lee (2014), Lilia Vu (2017) and Patty Tavatanakit (2018). Vu defeated the field in 2017 by six shots, with Tavatanakit besting Vu in a playoff in 2018.
Six Bruins have been named Pac-10/12 Golfer of the Year, including four of the last eight (Vu, 2018; Bronte Law, 2015 and 2016; Alison Lee, 2014). Joh was the league GOY in 2008, while Mayorkas earned the award in 2004. Seven have received Pac-10/12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year: Tavatanakit (2018), Vu (2016), A.Lee (2014), Erynne Lee (2012), Joh (2006), Hannah Jun (2004) and Yvonne Choe (2002).
Forsyth is a six-time Pac-10/12 Conference Coach of the Year, earning the award in 2018, as well as in back-to-back seasons twice (2011-2012; 2004-2005) and in 2002. Forsyth was also named the WGCA Region Coach of the Year in 2018, the fourth time she has been bestowed the award (2012, 2010, 2004). In 2004, she was named the WGCA National Coach of the Year, while in 2011, Forsyth earned Golfweek National Coach of the Year plaudits.
The Bruins have received a total of 106 All-American awards during the last 23 seasons, 56 WGCA/ NGCA honors and 51 Golfweek accolades. In 2018, Vu was the second Bruin to be named PING WGCA Player of the Year, joining Law in 2016. Law was also the second Bruin to earn Golfweek Player of the Week honors (A. Lee - 2014). In 2016, Law became the second Bruin recipient of the ANNIKA Award, joining Lee. Also on the national level, Tavatanakit was the 2018 WGCA Freshman of the Year, joining A. Lee (2014) and E. Lee (2012) as Bruin recipients. Forsyth’s most recent star, Emma Spitz, was three-time ANNIKA Award Finalist and WGCA First Team All-American (2020, 2021, 2022) as well as selected as a Honda Sport Award for Golf finalist (2020-21).
Along with its six conference Players of the Year and seven league Freshman/Newcomers of the Year, UCLA has received 59 All-Pac-10/12 First or Second Team honors since 2000. A total of 24 players have won 67 individual tournament titles during Forsyth’s tenure, as the Bruins have won 73 events as a team.
Over a dozen Bruins who were under Forsyth’s tutelage at UCLA are currently members of the LPGA, Symetra and European Tours. In 2014, Mo Martin (2001-05) became the first Bruin to win a major with her victory at the Ricoh British Open. Later that year, Alison Lee won the LPGA Qualifying Tournament to become the second player in school history to earn her tour card while being a UCLA student. The first was Stephanie Kono in 2011. In the summer of 2019, Tavatanakit won three times on the Symetra Tour and was named the Rookie of the Year.
On Dec. 6, 2011, Forsyth was inducted into the NGCA Coaches Hall of Fame. She married James Forsyth on July 26, 2003, and the couple resides in Santa Clarita with their twin sons and daughter.
Through the Years
The Bruins rallied for a fourth-place stroke play finish and ultimately fell to Auburn in the Match Play Quarterfinals of the 2021-22 NCAA Championships at Grayhawk Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. In a lineup led by junior Emma Spitz and featuring at least two and up to three freshmen in every tournament, the Bruins finished top three or better in six of its 13 competitions, including a medal at the Chambers Bay Invitational. Spitz captured the third title of her career at Chambers Bay as the only golfer to break par in the field (-1, 215). UCLA also finished runner-up at NCAA Regionals for the second season in a row, anchored by a top 3 spot by Spitz. Spitz tied for 9th in her final collegiate event at the NCAA Championships and went on to earn her WGCA First Team AllAmerican and All-Pac-12 First Team honors for the third and second time of her career, respectively. Spitz was also named an ANNIKA Award Finalist for the third consecutive year. Caroline Canales and Alessia Nobilio were tied for second on the squad with four top 10 marks.
UCLA posted four second-place finishes in the 2020-21 season. Spitz posted a runner-up finish at NCAA Championships in Scottsdale (-7, 281) as well as captured her second tournament title at 8-under 208 at the NCAA Regionals in Louisville. Spitz became an ANNIKA Award Finalist and WGCA First Team All-American for the second time of her career as well as a First Team Pac-12 selection for the first time of her career. Annabel Wilson recorded four Top 10 finishes and paced the Bruins at the Pac-12 Championships with a seventh-place finish (-1, 212).
During the 2019-20 abbreviated season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bruins posted three second-place finishes, a third-place showing and two fourth-place appearances in eight events. Emma Spitz won her first career event at the Bruin Wave Invitational. She was named a finalist for the ANNIKA Award and a First Team WGCA and Golfweek All-American. Emilie Paltrinieri earned WGCA Third Team All-American honors and Golfweek A-A Honorable Mention plaudits. (No seasonending Pac-12 Conference awards were given).
In 2018-19, the Bruins finished 20th at the NCAA Championships, winning a pair of tournaments (Golfweek Conference Challenge, Dual Match Versus Denver). UCLA secured seven individual titles, led by three from Tavatanakit (ANNIKA Intercollegiate, Dual Match vs. Denver, NCAA East Lansing Regional). Wu won twice (Dual Match, PING/ASU Invitational), as did Galdiano (Golfweek Challenge, Stanford Intercollegiate). Tavatanakit was a First Team WGCA and Golfweek All-American, Galdiano was a Third Team Golfweek All-American and an Honorable Mention WGCA All-American and Wu was an Honorable Mention Golfweek All-American. Galdiano and Tavatanakit were also First Team All-Pac-12.
In 2017-18, the Bruins defended their Pac-12 Championship, beating the field by 12 strokes to win their seventh league title. In addition to the team victory, Tavatanakit defeated Vu in a playoff to take home medalist honors. Tavatanakit became the sixth Bruin golfer to take home the Pac-12 individual title and second in a row (Vu). UCLA was the No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament and won the stroke-play portion of the NCAA Championships, its seventh victory of the year, which tied a single-season school record. The Bruins swept the major Pac-12 awards, with Vu being named Golfer of the Year, Tavatanakit Freshman of the Year and Forsyth earning league Coach of the Year accolades. Vu, who won four times on the season to give her a school-record eight for her career, was also named PING WGCA Player of the Year, while Tavatanakit, who also won four times, the most ever for a UCLA first-year player, was named WGCA Freshman of the Year. Tavatanakit and Vu were named WGCA and Golfweek First Team All-Americans, Galdiano earned Second Team WGCA and Golfweek All-American and First Team All-Pac-12 honors and Wu was
a Second Team All-Pac-12 honoree.
In 2016-17, UCLA won four times at the Stanford Intercollegiate, the Gifford Great 8 Collegiate Match Play, the Anuenue Spring Break Classic and the Pac-12 Championships. The Bruins also had two players combine to win five individual titles. Before she turned pro, Law won the Stanford Intercollegiate in October for the third year in a row. Then, Vu turned in one of the most dominant stretches ever in college golf, winning four straight events (Bruin Wave Invitational, Anuenue, Silverado Showdown and Pac-12), a first in school history. Vu would earn WGCA and Golfweek First Team All-American honors, as well as First Team All-Pac-12 accolades, Galdiano was named a Second Team Golfweek All-American, Honorable Mention WGCA All-American and All-Pac-12 First Team and Wu was recognized on the All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention squad.
In 2015-16, the Bruins won five stroke-play events, including the NCAA Championships, finishing as a semifinalist in the match-play portion. Among UCLA’s other four victories were its own Bruin Wave Invitational. Law, the winner of the ANNIKA Award, as well as the WGCA, Golfweek and Pac-12 Golfers of the Year, led the team with a 70.6 scoring average, shooting 40 shots under par, while Vu, the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, was eight shots under par for the year with a 71.7 scoring average.
In 2014-15, UCLA featured the Pac-12 Golfer of the Year in Law, who was also named First Team WGCA All-American and All-Pac-12, leading the conference and ranking seventh nationally with a 71.9 stroke average. She was also a two-time Pac-12 Golfer of the Month in 2014-2015, while Erynne Lee was named to the WGCA All-American team. The Bruins placed fourth at the Pac-12 Championships, and after starting slow at the NCAA Championships, rebounded to finish in 15th place. Off the course, the Bruins won the Don Shepard Award for highest team GPA at UCLA for the third straight year.
Between the 2010-11 and 2013-14 seasons, the Bruins won 40 percent of their tournaments, taking home 19 titles in 47 events. In 2013-2014, UCLA won four times, including five individual victories. Three of those were by Pac-12 individual champion Alison Lee, who among her many awards earned were Pac-12 Golfer and Freshman of the Year, the ANNIKA award (nation’s top player), Golfweek Player of the Year and WGCA Freshman of the Year. The 2011-2012 campaign saw the Bruins tie a school record with seven victories. It was another Lee, Erynne, who was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, in addition to NGCA FOY. UCLA also won seven tournament titles in 2008-2009 and 2003-2004.
In 2011, the Bruins won the NCAA team title for the second time under Forsyth’s leadership. The entire five-player lineup of Kono, Ani Gulugian, Lee Lopez, Tiffany Lua and Glory Yang were named All-Americans.
The Bruins posted the postseason trifecta in 2004, winning the NCAA, Regional and Pac-10 Championships.
Red, White and Blue Bruins
Outside of UCLA, Forsyth has coached a pair of U.S. Women’s Amateur champions in Jane Park and Maria Jo Uribe, and two other players, Joh and Brianna Do, have won three U.S. Women’s Amateur Publinks titles. In 2010, Kono and Lua played on the victorious United States Curtis Cup Team.
In 2016, as women’s golf returned to the Olympics, Uribe represented Colombia at the Rio Games, finishing in a tie for 19th.
Forsyth served as the head coach at CSUN from 1996-99, where she was named the 199899 Big Sky Coach of the Year. In her three seasons, the Matadors improved their team scoring average by 31 strokes.
In 1990, the former Carrie Leary entered UCLA as a walk-on player and earned a scholarship after her first year. As a freshman she played in 11 tournaments, including the Pac-10 and NCAA Championships. She graduated with honors from UCLA in 1994 with a degree in psychology and also served as the Bruins’ student assistant coach during the 1993-1994 season.
As an amateur, Forsyth competed in four U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championships and advanced to the quarterfinals in 1991. She also competed in three U.S. Amateur Championships and was an alternate qualifier for the 1992 and 1994 U.S. Women’s Open Championships. Forsyth played on several LPGA mini-tours and competed in the 1995 LPGA Tour Qualifying School.
Carrie Forsyth’s Year-by-Year UCLA Head Coaching Record
Season Events Wins Individual Wins Top 5 Finishes Top 10 Finishes Pac-10/12 Finish Regionals Finish NCAA Finish
1999-00 11 1 2 5 8 3rd 14th n/a 2000-01 12 2 1 6 10 7th 4th T-5th 2001-02 12 1 0 6 9 2nd 1st 21st 2002-03 12 0 1 8 12 3rd 3rd T-5th 2003-04 12 6 6 11 12 1st 1st 1st 2004-05 12 6 1 10 10 1st T-1st 2nd 2005-06 11 5 1 9 10 1st 2nd 11th 2006-07 11 0 2 8 11 2nd 2nd 3rd 2007-08 11 4 3 10 11 2nd 1st 2nd 2008-09 11 7 5 10 11 3rd 1st 2nd 2009-10 11 2 1 10 11 2nd 2nd 6th 2010-11 11 6 3 10 11 3rd 1st 1st 2011-12 12 7 3 11 12 4th T-1st 8th 2012-13 12 2 1 6 12 3rd 7th 4th 2013-14 12 4 5 11 12 4th 1st 3rd 2014-15 12 1 4 9 11 4th 2nd 15th 2015-16 12 5 5 10 12 2nd 3rd 1st (Stroke Play)/T-3rd (Match Play) 2016-17 11 4 5 8 11 1st 8th n/a
2017-18 12 7 2018-19 13 2 8 7 12 6 12 11 1st 6th 2nd T-1st (Stroke Play)/T-5th (Match Play) 3rd 20th
2019-20 8 0 2020-21 9 0 2021-22 13 1
23 SEASONS 263 73
1 1 1
67
6 6 11 199
8 7 13
247
(no postseason) (no postseason) (no postseason) T-5th T-2nd 15th
4th
5 Titles
T-2nd 4th (Stroke Play)/T-5th (Match Play)
