STANFORD, Calif. - The Stanford women's golf team completed its 2016 class by announcing that Ziyi (Emily) Wang of Beijing, China, has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the program.
She will join Andrea Lee, Madeline Chou and Albane Valenzuela as incoming freshmen next fall. Valenzuela signed in 2014-15 but is taking a deferral year.
"Emily is the epitome of a student-athlete," said Anne Walker, the Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women's Golf. "She has pursued an extremely rigorous academic schedule in Beijing, and at the same time, traveled internationally to compete in the best golf events. She has already won at the professional level and that experience will help her transition to the demands of the college game."
Wang captured the 2014 Callaway World Junior Championship and is the youngest tournament winner on the China LPGA Tour, posting a 10-under-par total. She has competed internationally for Team China since 2006. A 2014 AJGA scholastic honorable mention selection, Wang was student union president of her high school class in 2014-15.
Walker, who guided Stanford to its first NCAA title in program history last season, is thrilled about her new class. Lee is ranked 24th and Valenzuela 43rd in the World Amateur Ranking. Lee and Chou will compete in the California State High School Championship on Tuesday at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach.
"I am excited to coach this group because they are accomplished, motivated and excited to win another national championship for Stanford," Walker said. "They are arguably the strongest freshman class in the country and I wouldn't be surprised if one or more of them win an event during the 2016-17 campaign."
The Cardinal recently completed a strong fall season, winning two of three stroke play tournaments. Stanford opened by claiming the Branch Law Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico, then won the Stanford Intercollegiate hosted by Condoleezza Rice.
The third-ranked Cardinal closed its fall schedule by competing in the inaugural and nationally-televised East Lake Cup in Atlanta, Georgia, limited to the semifinalists from last year's NCAA Championships. Stanford lost to Duke in its match play opener, then defeated 2015 runner-up Baylor in the consolation match.
The team resumes play Feb. 13-14 in the Peg Barnard Invitational at Stanford Golf Course.
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