Wolverines Welcome Graduate Transfer Emilie Paltrinieri for 2023-24 Season
6/20/2023 10:30:00 AM | Women's Golf
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan women's golf head coach Jan Dowling announced Tuesday (June 20) the addition of graduate transfer Emilie Paltrinieri (UCLA) for the 2023-24 season. She becomes the program's first graduate transfer.
Paltrinieri bolsters U-M's veteran presence for next season after Dowling announced four-time All-Big Ten honoree Hailey Borja will return for a fifth year and Mikaela Schulz will begin her master's program as all three are utilizing the NCAA's eligibility extension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Emilie brings world class experience, maturity and high character into our program," said Dowling. "She has successfully competed at the highest level of women's amateur golf both in Europe and as a collegiate golfer at UCLA. Simply put, she is a proven winner both on the golf course and in the classroom. Her experiences as a competitive golfer and scholar are absolutely priceless for our team environment. We are thrilled to have her on campus this season."
"I am thrilled to start a new experience at the University of Michigan," said Paltrinieri. "Coach Dowling has been supportive of me since the start of the decision-making process and has made me feel welcomed right from the start. I look forward to getting to Ann Arbor as I have heard great things about the campus, athletic department, golf program, community and Business School."
The Milan, Italy, native spent the last four years with the UCLA women's golf program. Starting 26 of her 31 career events, she helped the Bruins reach three straight NCAA regionals (2021, '22, '23) and advance to the NCAA Finals twice (2021, '22). During the 2022 finals, UCLA finished fourth in stroke play qualifying to advance the team to match play, where the Bruins fell to Georgia in the quarterfinals.
During her four seasons, the Bruins added four regular-season team titles as well as 12 runner-up finishes, including the 2021 NCAA Louisville Regional and 2022 NCAA Tallahassee Regional. Averaging 75.40 per round, she recorded 16 sub-par rounds with her career low of 67 (-4) fired in the final round of the Northrop Grumman Challenge (Feb. 9-11, 2020). With that round, she tallied her career-low 54-hole total of 209 (73-69-67, -4).
Before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the second half of her freshman season (2019-20), Paltrinieri finished second on the Bruins with a 72.38 scoring average (six events) posting three top-10 finishes and five top 20s. She closed the season earning Women's Golf Coaches Association All-America third team honors as well as Golfweek All-America, honorable mention. She added the WGCA's All-American Scholar accolade.
In addition to her collegiate playing career, Paltrinieri has had numerous successes playing in Europe during her international career. A member of the Italian National Team and playing in more than 10 international events, she helped Italy capture the 2016 and 2018 European Girl's European Team Championship as well as the 2014 Girls World Team Championship. She adds a runner-up team finish at the 2022 European Ladies Team Championship.
She was a two-time member of the European Team (six boys/six girls) for the Junior World Ryder Cup. In 2016, she went 1-2 in her matches as the EU fell to the U.S. (15.5-8.4). Two years later, she posted a 2-0-1 record, but the EU squad fell just a point shy to the U.S. (12.5-11.5).
In 2020, Paltrinieri advanced to the semifinals at the Women's Amateur Championship at the West Lancashire Golf Club (England). In 2022, she returned to the Women's Amateur and closed with a quarterfinals appearance. Also in 2020, she finished 16th (74-69-69/212, -4) at the omega Dubai Moonlight Classic (European Ladies Tour) and tied for 20th (72-69-71-68/280, -4) at the European Ladies' Amateur.
Throughout her amateur career, Paltrinieri has captured six significant medalist honors, including the 2019 German Girls Open (68-71-70/209, -7), the 2018 Italian Ladies Stroke Play Championship (Isa Goldschmid Trophy; 69-67-70-69/275, -13), the 2016 and 2018 Italian Ladies Match Play (Giuseppe Silva Trophy), 2016 Girls British Amateur Championship and the 2014 Gran Premio Vecchio Monastero.
In 2022, she reached the quarterfinal of the Women's Amateur Championship in Hunstanton, England, after winning the qualifier (69-69/138, -6).
A five-time Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll honoree, Paltrinieri completed her degree in molecular biology from UCLA and will begin a master's in business management from U-M's prestigious Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
Pronunciation
• First name: "emily" (prefers "emi")
• Last name: "PALL-trin-yare-ee"
Players Mentioned
