“Playing in the Master, graduating from Stanford, and winning the US Women’s Open”, no we are not just scrambling words, these were the dreams one of the most loved LPGA players had when she was just a kid. Well, Wie West has achieved two of these dreams, one of them being winning the Women’s US Open and the other going to Stanford.
Michelle Wie West’s time at Stanford University may seem like a distant memory, but it had a lasting impact on her life and career. After graduating in June 2012 with a degree in communications, Wie West went on to have an amazing 18-year professional golf career, winning five big tournaments, including the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open. Even though she didn’t make the cut in her last pro event at Pebble Beach, Wie West feels happy with her decision to step away from competitive golf, leaving the door open for maybe playing again someday.
For now, she’s focused on being a mom and pursuing other things she loves, like helping young golfers and growing the game. Wie West recently reminisced about her Stanford journey on a podcast episode with Quiet Please, and the conversation took a hilarious turn. Reid revealed that Charley Hull had once referred to Stanford as “one of those posh schools, innit?” – yeah, that’s right, “posh schools”. As Mel recounted the convo, she said, “I was playing with Charley and I said, ‘You went to one of those posh schools, innit?’ And she was like, ‘Yeah, Stanford” Wie West couldn’t help but chuckle at the memory, and we can’t blame her.
Hull’s comment about Stanford being “one of those posh schools, innit?” has been making the rounds, especially since Rose Zhang joined the university this year. But what’s really impressive is Zhang’s decision to balance her professional golf career with studying at Stanford. At just 20 years old, she’s already a two-time winner in the LPGA! “It’s a lot of work,” Zhang admits, reflecting on her experience. “I think one mistake I made last year was when I had an off-season and was at school full-time with 20 units.”
Zhang’s got her priorities straight, and she’s learned from her mistakes. This time around, she’s focusing on her studies and getting enough rest. “I really like how my schedule is playing out right now because I’m full-time, 22 units for the winter quarter,” Zhang says, sounding relieved. And with her finals week coinciding with the week before the Arizona tournament, Zhang is feeling prepared: “I’ll get to finish everything that I need to and then prioritize that, put that to the side, and get ready for the entire season.”
Sep 13, 2024; Gainesville, Virginia, USA; Charley Hull of Team Europe lines up a shot from the second tee during Foursomes matches against Team USA during the first round of the Solheim Cup 2024 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Zhang is definitely a star at the LPGA circuit but is that same at her university as well? See for yourself.
Rose Zhang’s legacy at Stanford University takes a backseat
So, it looks like Rose Zhang’s incredible record at Stanford University has been topped by a new hot-shot Cardinal freshman, Meja Ortengren. This 20-year-old Swedish golfer is making waves, folks! She made 19 birdies over 54 holes at the San Diego State Classic, winning by eight shots and surpassing Zhang’s all-time best margin of victory by one stroke. Ortengren’s impressive performance helped Stanford claim the team title, their sixth straight stroke play win and cemented her status as a rising star in college golf.
Ortengren’s win was her first since arriving at Stanford in the fall, and let’s just say she’s making a strong case for herself as one of the top freshmen in the country. With a stroke average of 69.33 and no finishes worse than T-5 in her four college starts, Ortengren is proving to be a valuable addition to the Cardinal squad. I mean, the girl’s got a game! And it’s not just her – the entire Stanford team is on fire, with six members qualifying for this year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur. As Stanford continues to rack up wins and break records, Ortengren’s emergence as a star player is a testament to the program’s bright future. But despite seeing her record fall, Rose Zhang’s legacy at Stanford remains untouched – she’s still the standard-bearer for Cardinal golfers, and her achievements continue to inspire a new generation of players.
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