As a child, Michelle Wie West dreamt of three things – playing at the Masters, graduating from Stanford, and clinching the title at the US Women’s Open. With a remarkable 18-year professional golf career under her belt, Wie West realized two of these dreams. A Stanford graduate and the winner of the Women’s US Open, Wie West’s time at Stanford continues to impact her life and career, even though it may seem like a distant past.
Recalling her time at Stanford on a podcast episode with Quiet Please, Wie West shared a humorous anecdote. Fellow golfer Charley Hull had once amusingly referred to Stanford as “one of those posh schools, innit?” This comment has since been circulating in golfing circles, particularly after Rose Zhang enrolled at Stanford.
21-year-old Zhang is an impressive figure in the world of golf, already a two-time winner in the LPGA. She has made the ambitious decision to balance her professional golf career with her studies at Stanford. Zhang candidly admits that juggling her commitments is challenging. She reflected on a past mistake of taking on a full course load of 20 units during her off-season. However, Zhang is determined to learn from her past and is focusing on her studies and rest. With her finals week aligning with the week before the Arizona tournament, Zhang feels well-prepared for the forthcoming season.
While Zhang has made a name for herself in the LPGA circuit, a new star is rising at Stanford. Freshman Meja Ortengren, a 20-year-old Swedish golfer, is turning heads with her golfing prowess. At the San Diego State Classic, Ortengren made 19 birdies over 54 holes, winning by eight shots and surpassing Zhang’s all-time best margin of victory by one stroke. Her performance added another feather in Stanford’s cap, contributing to their sixth straight stroke play win and establishing Ortengren as a rising star in college golf.
Ortengren’s win, her first since joining Stanford in the fall, asserts her as one of the top freshmen in the country. With a stroke average of 69.33 and no finishes below T-5 in her four college starts, Ortengren is proving to be an asset to the Cardinal squad. Additionally, she is part of a team that’s currently on a winning streak, with six members qualifying for this year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Ortengren’s rise to prominence is indicative of Stanford’s bright future, but despite her record being surpassed, Zhang’s legacy remains intact. As the standard-bearer for Cardinal golfers, Zhang’s achievements continue to inspire a new generation of players. Hull’s jest about Stanford being a ‘posh’ school seems to be holding true, considering the quality of golfers the university is producing.