Who’s Chris Gotterup? Here are 5 quick facts about this PGA Tour breakout star!
1. He’s a Jersey Boy, Even Though He Was Born in Maryland
Chris Gotterup was born on July 20, 1999, in Easton, Maryland. But he grew up in Little Silver, New Jersey, so he really calls the Garden State home! He went to Christian Brothers Academy there. And, no surprise, he was a total star on their varsity golf team, the Colts. His amazing play as a young golfer earned him a spot on the Rutgers team.
2. He’s a Rutgers Golf Legend
Okay, so Rutgers isn’t exactly known as a golf giant. But honestly, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better, more accomplished player for the Scarlet Knights than Chris. He pretty much racked up every award imaginable during his time there! That includes being named Big Ten Player of the Year for the 2019-20 season. Plus, he tied for fourth at the 2019 Big Ten Conference Championship – that was the best finish in the program’s history! Over 29 tournaments with Rutgers, he landed in the top five seven times, and the top 10 even more.
And get this: during those same summers, he absolutely crushed it on the amateur circuit back in Jersey. He won both the NJSGA Open and the Met Amateur in 2019!
3. His Career REALLY Took Off at Oklahoma
With just one college season left, Chris decided to transfer to Oklahoma. Why? Because it’s one of the best golf programs out there! And wow, he was even better than anyone expected for the Sooners. His single season in Norman went down as one of the best ever for the program.
Chris’s 2022 season was absolutely legendary. He became the undisputed number one player in the country, according to both Golfstat and Sagarin rankings. He finished runner-up at the Big 12 championship and, incredibly, missed a playoff at the NCAA championship by just one tiny stroke, still snagging a top-five finish. That incredible year earned him both the Haskins Award AND the Jack Nicklaus Award – basically, he was named the best player in college golf!
4. His PGA Tour Breakout Happened in 2025
Chris turned pro right after his amazing 2022 season at OU. But, like many pros, he didn’t find immediate success. He didn’t quite break through and win until the 2024 season, when he grabbed his first career victory at the Myrtle Beach Classic!
Now, a win’s a win, right? And Chris pocketed a cool $720,000 for that first one! But let’s be real, that tournament was against one of the weaker fields on the schedule. So, Chris made sure his second victory was against some serious competition. He won the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club! Not only did he tie a course record with an incredible 61 in the second round, but he also held off a legend like Rory McIlroy in the final round. Talk about a statement win!
5. He Has a Girlfriend Named Samantha Rae Monte
It looks like Chris and Samantha have been dating since at least 2023, based on their Instagram posts! Samantha’s profile says she lives in New York City, while Chris calls Edmond, Oklahoma, home.
Samantha spends a lot of time on the road with Chris. She’s traveled with him to big tournaments like the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Arizona and the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.
However, during the 2025 British Open, Chris actually mentioned that Samantha hadn’t traveled with him to Royal Portrush. That’s where he put together another fantastic performance, just a week after his second career win!
