By: Tom Wywrot- UM for www.skyviewsports.net
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — University of Michigan women’s golf head coach Jan Dowling announced Wednesday (Nov. 13) the signings of Vanessa Zhang and Jaymie Ng to Big Ten Athletic Scholarship Agreements. The international duo will be freshmen for the 2025-26 season.
A Beijing, China, native, Zhang (“j-ah-ng”) comes to Ann Arbor ranked 460th by the World Amateur Golf Rankings, 152nd by the American Junior Golf Association, and 97th overall and 37th in the Class of 2025 by Junior Golf Scoreboard.
Over the last two summers, Zhang has excelled playing with the AJGA and on the China LPGA. With the AJGA, she has captured three titles, winning the 2024 Coca-Cola Junior Championships (70-75-71/216) after capturing the second playoff hole, the 2023 AJGA Dana Incorporated Junior Open (74-66-73/213, -3) after leading wire-to-wire, and the 2023 C.T. Pan Junior Championship (72-70-35-37/214, -2) after taking the first playoff hole.
While playing in the United States, she finished seventh at the 2023 Future Legends Junior Championship (76-76-72/224), competed at the 2024 Women’s Western Amateur (73-78), missing the cut for match play and the 2024 IMG Academy World Junior Championship, advancing to the final round (t-59th; 73-75-76/224).
In her home country, Zhang has posted eight top-10 finishes over the last two years playing on the China LPGA. On the Tianxing Series, she was fourth at the 2024 Series 2 event (69-74-71/214) and third at the Series 3 tournament (74-69-68/211). In 2023, she posted sixth-place finishes in the Series 4 (69-75-71/215) and Series 7 (72-70-67/209) events. With the Beijing Pearl Series, she highlighted 2024 with a ninth-place finish in the Series 3 event (73-75-73/220) and was 17th in the Series 1 tournament (79-81-77/237). In 2023. She had a runner-up finish in the Series 4 event (71-69-70/210) and tied for seventh at the Series 9 (75-71-72/218).
A native of Singapore, Ng (“ing”) comes to U-M ranked 750th in the WAGR. Playing at the Singapore Sports School, she was a back-to-back medalist (2022, ’23) at the National School Games (equivalent to high school nationals) with a 140 (71-69) and 144 (73-71), respectively.
In 2022, Ng qualified for the 2022 U.S. Junior Championship after her runner-up finish (72) at the Glendora Country Club. After her 154 (77-77) stroke-play tally, she missed the cut for match play. In her 2023 qualifying, she was the first alternate following her 71 at the Reserve at Spanos Park.
As a member of the Singapore National Development Team, Ng was a member of Team Singapore at the 2024 Queen Sirikit Cup in New Zealand and helped the three-member team to an eighth-place finish, individually tied for 24th (80-74-77-77/308). She added a runner-up finish (Santi Cup) at the 2024 South East Asian Amateur Team Championship as a Team Singapore member and tied for 13th (76-79-73/228) individually.
Also in 2024, Ng posted five top-20 finishes, highlighted by a runner-up at the SGA Squad Trial (72-34-69/174) and top-20 finishes at the Junior Orange Bowl International (t-16th; 78-75-74-75/302). In 2023, Ng posted seven top-10 finishes, including three wins — EFG-SICC Junior Invitational (72-69-68/209), the Singapore Junior Development Tour (71-72-70/213), and was the qualifier medalist at the Adidas Golf Junior 6s Tour World Final, Singapore (71-77-68/216).
U-M head coach Jan Dowling
On the addition of Vanessa Zhang …
“We are extremely excited to welcome Vanessa to Michigan. Her technical skills in all areas of the game are quite impressive, and she brings one of the strongest junior records we’ve ever brought into Michigan. Vanessa is a committed young woman who will impact our team as soon as she sets foot on campus. She works hard and has a knack for scoring low consistently, even on the most challenging courses. Because of her experiences, Vanessa brings a game that will transfer well at the collegiate level and beyond. We are excited to add her to our roster and I know she is excited to compete for the Maize and Blue at the highest levels of collegiate golf.”
On the addition of Jaymie Ng …
“Jaymie brings a very steady game and maturity level that our team will benefit from as soon as she arrives in Ann Arbor. Her wealth of international experience, team golf, and how well her game has traveled from continent to continent will be a huge lift to our program. Jaymie is a real student of the game and loves to find ways to improve and understands the commitment level it takes to succeed. Throughout her junior career, she has earned great international experiences and seen success locally in North America in her young career. We are excited to see how her game develops in the upcoming four years and feel she will contribute positively to all areas at Michigan right away.”
Vanessa Zhang
On heading to the University of Michigan …
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Wolverines, and I am looking forward to becoming part of the team next fall. Coming to Michigan truly excites me. I am grateful for the opportunity to grow as a student and athlete at such a respected institution. I feel that the balance Michigan offers between academics and athletics is exactly what I need. The team’s reputation for both camaraderie and hard work is something I admire, and I can’t wait to contribute to that environment. I am especially eager to work with Coach Jan (Dowling) and all my future teammates because I feel that playing and practicing with them will help me take my game to the next level. I am confident that together as a team we will be able to achieve excellent results!”
Jaymie Ng
On joining the University of Michigan …
“I am beyond thrilled to begin my college golf journey in Michigan. The team’s close-knit bond already feels like a family, and I can’t wait to build strong relationships with them and truly feel at home. With the guidance of Coach Jan (Dowling) and Coach Mandi (Unruh), I am confident that I will grow into a more dedicated and well-rounded golfer. I am sure the competition will be tough as the team is strong, so my goal is to make the lineup and contribute to Michigan’s scores in the first few events of my freshman year. Michigan is the perfect school for me, and I will be able to thrive in both golf and studies in such a caring environment.”
