05-25-2023, 08:43 AM
(05-25-2023, 07:42 AM)winflop Wrote: Zhang has been in six-figure NIL land now for two years (so has Rachel Heck). I'd say that transition she speaks of may be complete but who knows what may be coming her way in terms of more deals this summer, especially if she adds to her trophy case with another US Amateur title. But whatever she could get from NIL, it will pale in comparison to what she will get if she turns pro.
I do see a scenario where she comes back, but I think it's much more likely that she will turn pro. She has nothing left to prove in amateur golf. She's only the second woman in history to win the USGA Junior, USGA Amateur, and NCAA Individual titles (Pat Hurst of SJSU is the other) and the only one to tack on Augusta but that's very new so I'm not counting it. She's also already the only player - man or woman - to win back to back NCAA individual titles.
Seay is more interesting and I have no idea what she's going to do. Given her scholarship awards, my guess is that she's graduating this year. She's majoring in Human Biology, which I think is very much a pre-med major so going after a masters degree seems less likely. It's not clear to me that LPGA is even on her radar, or how well her game will translate to the professional ranks.
Thanks for posting your thoughts on this. I saw that we have one signed incoming golfer, this time from Spain, seems like an excellent prospect. With two seniors on the roster plus Rose Zahn I wondered why only one recruit. I don't know if either of the seniors have a covid year, it does seem Seay may well be moving on with her academic career. If Rachel returns to form, a return group of Heck, Xu, Englemann, and Ganne is a pretty good group, then there are Becht and Sturdza.
Did we only have one scholarship to give for this year? The cupboard isn't bare for next year.
