Chambana Sun

University of Illinois golfer Max Herendeen has been selected as one of nine top collegiate players named to the inaugural U.S. Elite Amateur Program roster for 2025, according to an announcement by the USGA. The program includes three men and six women, with Herendeen joining fellow sophomores Jackson Koivun from Auburn and Jacob Modleski from Notre Dame on the men's side.

Herendeen, a sophomore who earned second team PING All-America honors and was part of the GCAA All-Freshman Team last season, also received recognition as the 2023-24 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He was a unanimous All-Big Ten first team selection and concluded his first season at Illinois by winning the NCAA Stanford Regional. He also achieved a runner-up finish in stroke play at the NCAA Championship.

This season, Herendeen, originally from Bellevue, Washington, has achieved top-20 finishes in all four of Illinois' fall events. His performances included a ninth-place finish at the Folds of Honor Collegiate and a tie for fourth place at the Fallen Oaks Collegiate Invitational.

The Elite Amateur program aims to complement college programs by providing tailored support that enhances athletes' competitive edge. It is part of the U.S. National Development Program launched in 2023, which also includes the U.S. National Junior Team and will expand with a Young Professional Team set to begin in 2026.

The USNDP rosters are compiled annually by a selection committee based on criteria such as nationality, age, amateur status, conduct, education and graduation year, along with participation on other national teams.

Herendeen and his team will unofficially start their spring season this Saturday with a match-play exhibition against Florida State at Camp Creek Golf Course in Inlet Beach, Florida. They will then proceed to compete in earnest from February 13-15 at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate in Hawai'i.