Katy ISD Game Changers: Super Sophomore – Carolyn Liu Wins 6A Golf Title, Eyes Neurosurgery Career and LPGA Appearance

KATY, TX [May 22, 2026] – Carolyn Liu’s ambitions are extraordinary. She aims to lead groundbreaking neuroscience research at a premier university, while being one of the top professional golfers in the nation. To people on the outside looking in, it might seem outlandish, but the groundwork has already been laid for Jordan High School’s phenom to shatter expectations as a true dual threat.

Liu dominated the UIL 2026 6A Girls Golf State Championship, winning by a total of four strokes as a sophomore. She has consistently been one of the top golfers in Texas, all while maintaining a grueling academic regimen, taking five AP classes while maintaining a high GPA at one of the state’s most academically competitive public high schools.

“The first time I met her, she told me that her life goal is to play on the LPGA Tour and/or become a brain surgeon,” Jordan High School Golf Coach Austin Jones said. “If anybody is going to do it, why not Carolyn? I’ve seen the time that she puts into her craft. I’m really excited to see where that takes our school the next two years.

Liu shot a 68 and a 67 to qualify for the state championship. It was at that point Coach Jones said he knew she would capture her first title. She was in the zone.

“It seems crazy on the outside,” Jones said. “But you know, when you see greatness from her every day at practice or in the regular season, it's awesome and amazing. But it was not actually surprising for her to win state as a sophomore.”

With the help of her coach, she fine-tuned her swing as the season progressed, providing the torque and efficiency needed to be dangerous on the fairway. The remaining pieces were psychological.

“I've gotten mentally tougher,” Liu said. “That has helped me be able to tackle the mental challenges that I have, like, keeping the lead during tournaments.”

With two more years left, Liu is not going to let her foot off the gas. What started as a hobby introduced by her parents to teach discipline and life skills has turned into a healthy obsession. She knows she did not become the best 6A golfer in the state without help.

“My parents inspired me the most because I feel like they're extremely hard-working and dedicated,” Liu said. They have supported me through my golf game, and I feel like that has been a main factor of how I've been able to improve so much.”

As much as golf can be an individual sport, Jones has seen constant strides from Liu as a leader to her teammates and looks forward to the legacy she will leave over the next two years as a person and a golfer. She wants to be an example for other girls at Jordan for years to come.

“I want them to see that they can pursue athletics but also keep a strong academic vision around them,” Liu said. “I also want them to know that that giving up is not an option, and that they should always keep going.”

Liu has a tough path ahead. The road to being a top golfer while pursuing a career in neuroscience will not be an easy one. She plans to discover a way to repair nerve cells, which is no small feat. But if there’s one thing Liu has proven in her short time as a teenager, it is that the extraordinary is possible.

Carolyn Liu is a top student at Jordan High School – and the best girls 6A high school golfer in Texas.

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