The trio, announced Wednesday, aims to bolster the Mean Green’s depth and push the program toward a future National Championship appearance.
By securing players who have competed at the national team level in India and Thailand, Akers intends to make it to the National Championship.
- Immediate Roster Utility: Keya Badugu’s arrival is expected to stabilize the starting five, providing the depth needed to navigate a heavy spring tournament schedule.
The recruitment of Keya Badugu, a native of New Delhi, adds technical depth to the program. Badugu enters the collegiate ranks with a decorated amateur resume, having finished 2025 ranked No. 1 in India and securing third in the Amateur Order of Merit. Her victory at the 2026 IGU Rotary Southern India National Golf Championship shows a consistent form that Akers believes will translate immediately to the collegiate level.
The addition of Korrawan Bennukul and Kotchakorn Nimnual from Thailand further diversifies the roster’s tactical profile. Bennukul, a member of the Thailand Women’s National Golf Team (TALGA) from 2022 to 2027, brings high-pressure experience from the Thai LPGA Masters, where she earned the Best Amateur title in 2026.
“Korrawan is on the Thai National Team which is a very big deal,” Akers said. “I have watched her play, and she is very smooth.”
Nimnual complements this group with a meticulous approach to the game. Her success on the 2026 Thailand Junior Golf Tour and her podium finish at the 2026 Junior Asian Tour #3 highlight a player who excels in high-stakes environments. According to the program’s announcement, her attention to detail is a primary driver for the coaching staff’s expectations for a conference title run.
| Athlete | Origin | Key 2026 Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Keya Badugu | New Delhi, India | Winner, IGU Rotary Southern India National Championship |
| Korrawan Bennukul | Nonthaburi, Thailand | Best Amateur, Thai LPGA Masters |
| Kotchakorn Nimnual | Ratchaburi, Thailand | Winner, Thailand Junior Golf Tour #3 |
Akers has explicitly tied this recruiting class to the goal of reaching the National Championship, emphasizing that the current roster’s limitations in depth necessitated a high-impact infusion of talent.
“I am serious about making it to the National Championship soon and these players give us the depth we need to make that a possibility,” Akers said. “They all want to play on the LPGA tour. They all possess the ability and drive to make that happen.”
With Badugu pursuing a degree in sports psychology and her counterparts exploring business marketing, the university is positioning itself as a hub for both athletic and academic development. As the program prepares for the 2027 season, the focus shifts to integrating these newcomers into the existing team culture and the demands of the NCAA circuit.
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