STANFORD, Calif. — With three highly-touted recruits already set to join the Cardinal in 2026, the Knowles Family Director of Men’s Golf Conrad Ray announced the signing of Daniel Zou to the 2026 squad. The rising junior joins the Cardinal after two historic seasons at Rice University in Texas.Â
Zou heads to The Farm having twice earned American Athletic Conference (AAC) All-Conference Honors including being tabbed Freshman of the Year for the 2024-25 season. Last season, Zou finished second on the Owls in stroke average (71.49) and tied for fifth overall at the AAC Men’s Golf Championships after shooting a bogey-free 64 during the final round which was the second lowest round in program history.Â
Zou holds Rice’s best stroke average since 1991 at 71.65 through 71 rounds while posting one career first-place finish after tying for first at the Bayou City Collegiate Classic his freshman year. Zou has appeared in 24 events and holds two top-five placements while amassing 11 top-20 placements in his two seasons of collegiate golf. Ranked No. 24 in the AJGA Rolex Rankings heading into college, Zou led The Woodlands High School to a runner-up finish at the UIL State Championships his sophomore year as the Texas native also boasts two AJGA Tour victories, taking the top spot at the CT Pan Junior Championship and the Dominican Junior Open.