---
title: Former JTNC Player of the Year Kiara Romero Named to USNDP Elite Amateur Roster
description: Former JTNC Player of the Year Kiara Romero Named to USNDP Elite Amateur Roster
---

[JTNC News | Junior Tour of Northern California ](https://blog.jtnc.ncga.org)

# [Former JTNC Player of the Year Kiara Romero Named to USNDP Elite Amateur Roster](https://blog.jtnc.ncga.org/former-jtnc-player-of-the-year-kiara-romero-named-to-usndp-elite-amateur-roster)

 Written by [Kurtis Bettencourt](https://blog.jtnc.ncga.org/author/kurtis-bettencourt) | Mar 2, 2026 7:54:38 PM

The USGA recently announced the roster for the 2026 Elite Amateur Program, a pillar of the U.S. National Development Program (USNDP) that was established in 2023 to create a unified pathway designed to nurture the potential of America’s top players.

Not surprisingly, one of the team members is 2024-2025 NCGA Women's Player of the Year and 2019-2020 JTNC Girls Player of the Year Kiara Romero.

Romero, a 19-year-old junior at the University of Oregon and a native of San Jose,  will be a member of the Elite Amateur Program for a second consecutive year. The University of Oregon junior made history at the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally at Erin Hills by shooting the lowest final-round score ever by an amateur (5-under 67). Romero became the first Oregon player to win both a conference (Big Ten) individual title and a NCAA regional individual title in the same season as a sophomore in 2024-25. She holds the record for most individual titles in program history with five.

Esteemed golf writer and NCGA Golf Magazine contributor Alan Shipnuck [profiled Romero in the February issue](https://read.nxtbook.com/ggrw/ncga_golf_plus/february_2026/on_the_beat.html). 

The Elite Amateur Program rosters are compiled and reevaluated annually by a selection committee of USNDP staff members, and eligibility criteria include nationality, age, amateur status, conduct, performance, education and graduation year.

[View full post](https://blog.jtnc.ncga.org/former-jtnc-player-of-the-year-kiara-romero-named-to-usndp-elite-amateur-roster)

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