AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn women’s golf has signed three student-athletes who will join the Tigers ahead of the 2026-27 season, head coach Melissa Luellen announced Wednesday. Zara Anand, Kallyn Black and Gia Raad each signed with the Tigers.
Anand, a native of New Delhi, India, will join the team as the No. 1-ranked amateur in India. She has represented her home country at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific earlier this season and as a member of the Indian National Team. Anand finished in the top 10 at the Queen Sirikit Cup and was the top amateur at the Ladies European Tour’s Hero Women’s Indian Open this year, tying for 15th place.
“Zara is a diamond in the rough,” Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. “She is so dedicated to the game of golf, dedicated to her studies and anything she puts her mind to. She’s really a coach’s dream. Someone who works really hard and is passionate. When she came and visited Auburn, her eyes just lit up because she was so excited.”
Black will arrive on The Plains from Greensboro, Georgia, where she was the 2025 Georgia High School Association state medalist. She was also the PGA High School Nationals co-medalist earlier this year. Black has won twice on the AJGA Tour at the 2025 Vaughn Taylor Championship and the 2024 Visit Owensboro Junior Championship. In 2024, she earned AJGA Rolex All-America honors and finished inside the top 10 at the AJGA Ping Invitational.
“Kallyn is an Auburn Tiger through and through,” Luellen said. “She’s a really talented young lady and has a great instructor at Lake Oconee. Great fundamentals, which in this game, you have to have. She works hard on her game and is getting stronger and stronger.”
Raad will join the team from Johannesburg, South Africa, where she was the top-ranked player in the nation in 2024. She is a two-time South African Amateur champion and won the Africa Amateur in 2025. Raad also captured the English Girls Open Championship in 2023 and was the top finishing amateur at the Ladies European Tour’s Investec SA Women’s Open earlier this year.
“Just a fabulous player, great girl, really fun and excited to be an Auburn Tiger,” Luellen said. “I first saw Gia at the ANNIKA Junior Invitational and was immediately impressed with her golf swing, her tenacity and her passion for the game. She’s going to be a real asset to the program.”