Nguyen Anh Minh has committed to play collegiate golf at Oregon State
Vietnam’s 18-year-old sensation, Nguyen Anh Minh, showed once again how he is on track to become the first star to emerge from that country as he made it to the finals of the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, last week; falling 2 & 1 to Hamilton Coleman of Georgia in the 36-hole final at The Honors Course in Tennessee. Despite the loss, Nguyen’s performance underscored a larger narrative—Vietnam’s astonishing rise in global amateur golf, outpacing nations with deeper traditions like India.
Nguyen’s meteoric rise is no fluke, having led Vietnam to a double victory at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Team Championship (Nomura Cup) in October 2024, winning both the individual and team titles in only Vietnam’s second appearance at the prestigious event. He’s won four professional titles at home, represented the International Team at the 2024 Junior Presidents Cup, and competed in The Asia-Pacific All Star teams that beat Europe in both 2023 and 2025 to win The Bonallack Trophy. He is set to start his US college golf career at Oregon State in a few weeks from now.
RELATED: Vietnam makes history in Asia Pacific Team event
Fifteen years ago, Vietnam didn’t even have a formal national golf team. Today, they are producing elite-level amateurs like Nguyen—while India, despite its long history in the game, is struggling today at every level of world men’s golf. Nguyen’s breakthrough should serve as both an inspiration and a wake-up call for Indian golf’s grassroots development.
Photo – APGC