UCLA Signs Top Italian Amateur Francesca Fiorellini
December 24, 2023 | Women's Golf
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA women's golf program has received a signed National Letter of Intent (NLI) from Francesca Fiorellini, it was announced Sunday by head coach Alicia Um Holmes.
Fiorellini, from Rome, was ranked as the top golfer in Italy, 15th in Europe and 36th worldwide in the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings. Her amateur career is headlined by individual victories at the French International Lady Juniors Amateur Championship in 2021, the 92nd Portuguese International Ladies Amateur Championship (-9; 70-69-68-72) and the ANNIKA Invitational Europe (-5; 69-71-74) in 2022. Fiorellini also claimed three major team victories in 2023 at the Junior Ryder Cup, Junior Solheim Cup and Patsy Hankins Trophy.
"I am ecstatic to welcome Francesca to our Bruin golf family as she is one of the very best junior golfers in the world," Um Holmes said. "She's accomplished so much in her young career. I had the opportunity to see her clinch victory at the ANNIKA Invitational Europe, and her ball striking was the straightest I've ever seen and her touch on the greens was impeccable. Francesca's talent, experience and drive for excellence is what we look for when recruiting players to UCLA and her wonderful personality is icing on the cake. We are lucky to have her and can't wait for her to join us in the fall."
At the Junior Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Fiorellini came back from 2 DN with two holes to play, holing a putt from 25 feet to tie the final match in front of a raucous home crowd. She also won a foursome match and fourball match to help Europe to its first victory over the United States in seven years. At the Junior Solheim Cup at La Zagaleta Golf Club in Benahavís, Spain, Fiorellini won all three matches, including a 5&3 victory in her final singles match.
Two years earlier, Fiorellini brought home Team Europe's first-ever Junior Solheim Cup on American soil at Sylvania Country Club in Ohio. She won two of her three matches, including a 4&3 victory in the final singles match.
Also in 2023, Fiorellini and Team Italy finished runner-up at the European Girls' Team Championship at Hossegor Golf Club in France.
Fiorellini was a four-time champion in her home country the last two years. In 2023, she won the Italian International Ladies Amateur Championships (67-70-77-71) and Giuseppe Silva Trophy at the Italian National Ladies Amateur Match Play Championships. In 2022, Fiorellini captured the Isa Goldschmid Trophy at the Italian Ladies Stroke Play, winning by eight strokes (71-68-67-71), and the Silvio Marazza Trophy at the Italian U18 National Championship, winning by 10 strokes (68-74-70-66).
Fiorellini joins Angela Liu (Irvine, Calif.) as part of first-year head coach Um Holmes' 2024 signing class.
Fiorellini, from Rome, was ranked as the top golfer in Italy, 15th in Europe and 36th worldwide in the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings. Her amateur career is headlined by individual victories at the French International Lady Juniors Amateur Championship in 2021, the 92nd Portuguese International Ladies Amateur Championship (-9; 70-69-68-72) and the ANNIKA Invitational Europe (-5; 69-71-74) in 2022. Fiorellini also claimed three major team victories in 2023 at the Junior Ryder Cup, Junior Solheim Cup and Patsy Hankins Trophy.
"I am ecstatic to welcome Francesca to our Bruin golf family as she is one of the very best junior golfers in the world," Um Holmes said. "She's accomplished so much in her young career. I had the opportunity to see her clinch victory at the ANNIKA Invitational Europe, and her ball striking was the straightest I've ever seen and her touch on the greens was impeccable. Francesca's talent, experience and drive for excellence is what we look for when recruiting players to UCLA and her wonderful personality is icing on the cake. We are lucky to have her and can't wait for her to join us in the fall."
At the Junior Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Fiorellini came back from 2 DN with two holes to play, holing a putt from 25 feet to tie the final match in front of a raucous home crowd. She also won a foursome match and fourball match to help Europe to its first victory over the United States in seven years. At the Junior Solheim Cup at La Zagaleta Golf Club in Benahavís, Spain, Fiorellini won all three matches, including a 5&3 victory in her final singles match.
Francesca Fiorellini finishes in style to tie her match ??#JrRyderCup pic.twitter.com/ssGvIUkkxJ
— Junior Ryder Cup (@JuniorRyderCup) September 28, 2023
Two years earlier, Fiorellini brought home Team Europe's first-ever Junior Solheim Cup on American soil at Sylvania Country Club in Ohio. She won two of her three matches, including a 4&3 victory in the final singles match.
Also in 2023, Fiorellini and Team Italy finished runner-up at the European Girls' Team Championship at Hossegor Golf Club in France.
Fiorellini was a four-time champion in her home country the last two years. In 2023, she won the Italian International Ladies Amateur Championships (67-70-77-71) and Giuseppe Silva Trophy at the Italian National Ladies Amateur Match Play Championships. In 2022, Fiorellini captured the Isa Goldschmid Trophy at the Italian Ladies Stroke Play, winning by eight strokes (71-68-67-71), and the Silvio Marazza Trophy at the Italian U18 National Championship, winning by 10 strokes (68-74-70-66).
Fiorellini joins Angela Liu (Irvine, Calif.) as part of first-year head coach Um Holmes' 2024 signing class.
UCLA Women's Golf NCAA Championship Recap
Tuesday, May 28
Post Round Press Conference – Francesca Fiorellini (April 3, 2024)
Wednesday, April 03
Media Availability – Zoe Antoinette Campos (April 2, 2024)
Tuesday, April 02
Zoe Antoinette Campos Previews Major Appearance at the U.S. Women's Open at Pebble Beach
Tuesday, June 27