We are likely to get better.
Over the next three classes, three golfers currently ranked in Rolex's top ten Junior Golf rankings will be coming to Stanford.
Next year, it's #10 Calista Reyes, ranked #4 in this incoming 2018 class. We also have signed a German golfer about whom I know very little but who has competed well there. GolfWeek, almost purely on the strength of Reyes, ranks this class #3, behind USC and Florida. Three of those USC signees already are at USC and played in this event.
The following year, we welcome #6 Angelina Ye, currently living in Florida by way of Shanghai, China.
And the year after, it's #2 Rachel Heck from Tennessee. Heck already is a two-time, first team Rolex All American as just an eighth grader and high school freshman. (For comparison, Andrea Lee was a first teamer all four years in high school and a second teamer as an eighth grader. And for further comparison, our former star Mariah Stackhouse made first team once and honorable mention twice.)
And we may be in serious running for the current #1. That's Lucy Li of nearby Redwood Shores, who was born in Stanford Hospital and perfectly fits our profile. (Top girls golfers tend to be thoughtful and intelligent.) And given her maturity and her parents, I would not be surprised to see her graduate a year early.
If you've never seen Li, catch one of the many videos of her on YouTube. She's one of a kind. And if she does come to Stanford, I hope Coach Walker allows Li to choose and make her golf outfits. You will see why on many of these videos.
It's clear from our recruits' comments that we are seeing a Tiger Effect in our recruiting, but even more a Michelle Wie Effect. The Asian junior golfers grew up idolizing Michelle. Ye, among others, speaks of Wie often.
Cannot resist, too, the possibility of a 2020 Stanford lineup that begins "Reyes Heck!" and ends with the melodious "Ye, Liu, Li."
In short: Things may get even better, but a hats off to this team. Given the juggernauts at UCLA and Alabama, there is no shame in finishing third in the nation.
Over the next three classes, three golfers currently ranked in Rolex's top ten Junior Golf rankings will be coming to Stanford.
Next year, it's #10 Calista Reyes, ranked #4 in this incoming 2018 class. We also have signed a German golfer about whom I know very little but who has competed well there. GolfWeek, almost purely on the strength of Reyes, ranks this class #3, behind USC and Florida. Three of those USC signees already are at USC and played in this event.
The following year, we welcome #6 Angelina Ye, currently living in Florida by way of Shanghai, China.
And the year after, it's #2 Rachel Heck from Tennessee. Heck already is a two-time, first team Rolex All American as just an eighth grader and high school freshman. (For comparison, Andrea Lee was a first teamer all four years in high school and a second teamer as an eighth grader. And for further comparison, our former star Mariah Stackhouse made first team once and honorable mention twice.)
And we may be in serious running for the current #1. That's Lucy Li of nearby Redwood Shores, who was born in Stanford Hospital and perfectly fits our profile. (Top girls golfers tend to be thoughtful and intelligent.) And given her maturity and her parents, I would not be surprised to see her graduate a year early.
If you've never seen Li, catch one of the many videos of her on YouTube. She's one of a kind. And if she does come to Stanford, I hope Coach Walker allows Li to choose and make her golf outfits. You will see why on many of these videos.
It's clear from our recruits' comments that we are seeing a Tiger Effect in our recruiting, but even more a Michelle Wie Effect. The Asian junior golfers grew up idolizing Michelle. Ye, among others, speaks of Wie often.
Cannot resist, too, the possibility of a 2020 Stanford lineup that begins "Reyes Heck!" and ends with the melodious "Ye, Liu, Li."
In short: Things may get even better, but a hats off to this team. Given the juggernauts at UCLA and Alabama, there is no shame in finishing third in the nation.