IN FORM: Riccardo Fantinelli follows through on a drive at the NCAA Columbus Regional in late May as he wrapped up his career for the Princeton University men’s golf team. The recently graduated Fantinelli, a three-time Ivy League Player of the Year, qualified last month for the upcoming U.S. Amateur which will take place from August 10-16 at the Merion Golf Club and Philadelphia Country Club. (Photo provided courtesy of Brad Repplinger)
By Justin Feil
Riccardo Fantinelli has plenty of golf ahead after concluding his collegiate career as arguably the best player in Princeton University men’s golf history.
After earning his third Ivy League Player of the Year and fourth first team All-Ivy honors, the 2026 Princeton graduate has been staying close to campus while continuing to develop his game at Springdale Golf Club.
On July 20, he was co-medalist with a 5-under 66 at the U.S. Amateur Final Qualifier at Llanerch Country Club in Havertown, Pa., to earn the chance to tee it up at the U.S. Amateur that begins with stroke play August 10-11 at Merion Golf Club and Philadelphia Country Club. Match play begins August 12 with the final 36 holes being played August 16 at Merion.
“I’m excited,” said Fantinelli. “It’s extra special because it’s at Merion and we’ve been lucky enough to play it quite a few times. I just want to make sure I’m ready.”
Fantinelli has been able to play the Merion course through the years while competing for Princeton. The course hosts only some of the biggest tournaments in the game, but Princeton has been able to play practice rounds there numerous times in in his career. He is hoping his familiarity will be a plus.
“It’s a pretty short course for USGA standards,” said Fantinelli, who missed the cut while playing in the 2024 U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. “I believe it’s less than 7,000 yards, but I know their rough and the greens are going to be really tough. So I’m spending a lot of time preparing my short game for that at Springdale.”
Fantinelli has seen a lot of benefits to his practice time at Springdale through the years. He graduated as just the second player ever to win three Ivy Player of the Year awards, and he’s the only Princeton player to ever do so. He was also the 13th player in Ivy history to have four first-team All-Ivy selections. This year he finished under par in
six of his first eight events and in 23 rounds he averaged 69.6 strokes. He also played in three NCAA Regional tournaments.
“It’s certainly really cool and I’m glad I was able to achieve this, but I know that in pro golf, no one really looks at that stuff,” said Fantinelli. “It’s more about what you do as a pro.”
Fantinelli, a native of Rome, Italy, has aspired to have a professional golf career since arriving in Princeton from Italy by way of England. He grew up moving around a few times, and began to stand out as a high prospect while fashioning his game at Whitgift School and then Reed’s School Cobham in England. He could have attended a college with a more robust golf schedule in a more golf-friendly climate, but he was drawn to Princeton’s overall package early.
“Obviously the academic reputation was very appealing and the fact that Coach [Will] Green just seemed like an awesome guy that is willing to help you regardless of what your goals were,” said Fantinelli. “So I think I really made a decision based on the people rather than the weather.”
Fantinelli became a standout right from the outset. He won the Ivy League tournament as a freshman and again as a junior. He was third this year, one shot out of the playoff for first place. Accolades were never on his mind, though, even as they mounted year after year.
“I just focused on getting a little bit better,” said Fantinelli. “Playing matches against my teammates, whether it’s on the chipping, putting green, and just not really thinking about outcome, more just focusing on getting better every day.”
He represented his native Italy in the World Amateur Team Championships twice while at Princeton, and helped it win just their second ever European Amateur Team Championship in 2025. He placed third at the European Amateur Championships in Finland in June and reached the semifinals of the British Amateur in 2025. Those sort of results are promising for his future.
“I think I’m on track,” said Fantinelli. “I don’t know that I’ve necessarily exceeded my expectations, but I think I have a chance of playing some good golf as a pro.”
He was able to enjoy himself more last spring with a slightly lighter academic load while also finishing his thesis toward his economics degree. At the end of his year, he was one of six nominees for the prestigious William Winston Roper Trophy that recognizes academic and athletic achievement by a Princeton senior male athlete. It ultimately went to swimmer Mitchell Schott.
“It was awesome to be nominated,” said Fantinelli. “I’m kind of glad I didn’t win. I didn’t really want to have to give a speech in front of that many people. All jokes aside, it’s a great honor and I’m grateful I got nominated.”
Fantinelli had plenty of honors go his way at Princeton. He’s hoping he can also achieve a lot in professional golf. He comes off a standout college career, and the U.S. Amateur is a good early test as he prepares for qualifying to be a pro.
“My game’s good. I’m not scoring as well as my game is right now,” said Fantinelli. “I’m hitting the ball really well. I just haven’t really had the chance to go low for some reason, but hopefully I’m due for some good rounds.”
Fantinelli will jump into a busy schedule later this month. The first start of the DP World Tour — Europe’s top league — is at the end of the month, with more stages in September and October and a final stage in November. The PGA Tour Q-School has pre-qualifying in September and first and second stage events in October and December respectively before a final stage tournament December 10-13 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., the Asian Tour qualifying begins in Morocco in late October, and the final event will be held in Thailand in December.
“The odds of getting all three are pretty low,” said Fantinelli. “I’d be happy with any of them. I think
the European tour would be my ideal spot to start.”
Fantinelli has been able to turn his focus entirely to golf since graduating. The qualifying schools will keep him on the course more than he’s ever been.
“It’s certainly a bigger toll on your body, but it’s also easier to get in a rhythm and less pressure that you need to do well in a given tournament because you have more opportunities,” said Fantinelli.
He intends to stay in the Princeton area through the fall as he hones his game. He’s pouring all of his energy into developing into a stronger all-around golfer.
“I certainly need to improve every aspect of my game,” said Fantinelli. “I don’t think I’m quite there yet. But definitely my long game is better than my short game. So I think I will be spending a lot more time on the putting and chipping green.”
The U.S. Amateur and then the qualifying school events will be some of the biggest tournaments that he’s ever played. Fantinelli is confident that his time in college has helped, and his approach to the high pressure spots is just to focus on his playing and not the big picture. He’ll focus on each opportunity as it comes as he looks to adjust to golfing as a career.
“I try to think as little as possible,” said Fantinelli. “There are so many unknowns and you have so many opportunities in golf to win a tournament or do well that can get you status that you just turn up every week and do your best, and then the end of the year you come up with the conclusion of what you’ve achieved and what’s missing.”
Fantinelli did just about everything that he could while at Princeton. He leaves with his legacy well established with the Tigers and in the Ivy League.
Now Fantinelli will try to build on that experience as he takes a jump to play for a spot at the professional level.
“There’s definitely going to be a lot of guys fresh out of college and a lot of more experienced pros trying to qualify,” said Fantinelli. “But we’ll see. I mean, golf is strange in the sense that anyone can have a good week. And hopefully it’s me.”