Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Edwards Adds Top Chinese Amateur To Golf Program
November 16, 2023 | Men's Golf
Zeqian “Michael” Fang To Become First-Ever CU Student-Athlete From China
BOULDER — University of Colorado men's golf coach Roy Edwards announced a second recruit in the school's 2024 recruiting class on Thursday, as he signed Zeqian "Michael" Fang of Shenzhen, People's Republic of China, to a national letter-of-intent.
The first CU student-athlete, scholarship or walk-on, ever from China, Fang was a quarterfinalist in this year's U.S. Junior Amateur, with three top six efforts in AJGA competition along with several good finishes in smaller professional events. In the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) of November 8, he was ranked 279th, the 16th player representing China.
Shenzhen is located in the Guangdong Province of southern China, just due north of Hong Kong.
"We have another really good one coming in next fall in Zeqian," Edwards said, pointing out he likes to go by Michael. "Michael has really played some good golf the past few years. He is a top-class student on top of being one of the best players in China. He came to the U.S. this summer and played some very high-level golf while he was here, which was impressive. We had a great visit with him a few weeks ago and spending a lot of time with the team made his decision an easy one.
Fang cited several reasons for selecting Colorado over several other schools in his recruitment.
"For one, because I think the climate of Colorado is great and challenging, which means we can adept the different weathers on tour," Fang said. "Secondly, the facilities of Colorado are super convenient and excellent. What's more, I really like the atmosphere among the team, it's harmonious. All in all, Boulder is the most suitable place for me to improve my golf techniques and enjoy my college life."
In the last week of this past July, he tied for 44th in the stroke play portion of the U.S. Junior Amateur at the Daniel Island Club in Charleston, S.C., with a 1-over par 70-74—144 scorecard. Seeded 51st, in the first round, he defeated 14th-seed, Pepperdine freshman William Walsh, 4 & 2; in round two, he bested Georgia teenager and No. 46 seed Jack Roberts, 1-up; and in the third round, he earned a 3 & 1 win over Hunter Stetson, a high school senior from Pennsylvania and the No. 30 seed. In the quarterfinals, he lost 2-up to the No. 6 seed Joshua Bai, a New Zealand teenager and eventual runner-up overall.
While in the United States, he recorded three top six finishes in AJGA competition: third in the Jim Click Automotive-HSL Properties Championship (72-76-71—219, +3); fifth in the SERI PAK Desert Junior (70-71-75—216, E); and sixth in the Huntsville Junior (73-73-67—213, -3). He also tied for 36th in the North and South Junior Amateur (70-73-78—221, +5) in Pinehurst, N.C.
Back home in China, he competed in five CLPGQ Gionee·Zhaoqing Series events this season, with two runner-up, two fourth place and one 10th place finishes. In those 15 rounds, he owned a 70.7 stroke average; on two occasions, he had 10-under 206 efforts (69-68-69 in Series 1; 69-67-70 in Series 2). He also played one CLPGQ Xiamen Series event (No. 2), where he finished second, one stroke out of the top spot, with a 70-70-72—212 (-4) score.
In addition, he has competed in over 15 professional events in China, including two impressive efforts in the nation's top tour. He tied for fifth in the China Tour's 2022 Mitsubishi Electric Open, where he was the top amateur, one of just two to make the cut, in the 84-man field with a 72-73-73-73—291 (3-over) score. Playing alongside numerous pros, he had 10 birdies and 49 pars overall. That same year, he also tied for 39th – the third low amateur – in the Hainan Golf Open (73-75-70-74—292, +4).
(He also played in the 2023 Mitsubishi Electric Open, with a 75-74-75-71—295 effort – 7-over – this time finishing tied for 38th but as the fourth low amateur.)
In 2022, he won the JSBC National Junior Championship Final by three strokes (68-69-69—206, -10) … He also finished third in the China Amateur Golf Open Series Final (75-70-70-74—289, +1), six off the lead in the event open to all ages, and also took third in the China Junior Golf Open (73-75—148, +4), five back of first. He had a fourth place finish in the China Junior Golf Classic (71-73-72-76—292, +4).
He has a twin brother, Zekun, who often has caddied for him, including in this year's U.S. Junior Am. He has signed to play golf at UC-Santa Barbara.
At this time, Edwards does not anticipate adding to his 2024 recruiting class; last week, he signed Wyoming prep phenom Parker Paxton to a letter of intent.
"Michael and Parker together make for a tremendous recruiting class and both have a chance to be spectacular players," Edwards said. "Combining our existing team with this class, we couldn't be more excited for the future."
The first CU student-athlete, scholarship or walk-on, ever from China, Fang was a quarterfinalist in this year's U.S. Junior Amateur, with three top six efforts in AJGA competition along with several good finishes in smaller professional events. In the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) of November 8, he was ranked 279th, the 16th player representing China.
Shenzhen is located in the Guangdong Province of southern China, just due north of Hong Kong.
"We have another really good one coming in next fall in Zeqian," Edwards said, pointing out he likes to go by Michael. "Michael has really played some good golf the past few years. He is a top-class student on top of being one of the best players in China. He came to the U.S. this summer and played some very high-level golf while he was here, which was impressive. We had a great visit with him a few weeks ago and spending a lot of time with the team made his decision an easy one.
Fang cited several reasons for selecting Colorado over several other schools in his recruitment.
"For one, because I think the climate of Colorado is great and challenging, which means we can adept the different weathers on tour," Fang said. "Secondly, the facilities of Colorado are super convenient and excellent. What's more, I really like the atmosphere among the team, it's harmonious. All in all, Boulder is the most suitable place for me to improve my golf techniques and enjoy my college life."
In the last week of this past July, he tied for 44th in the stroke play portion of the U.S. Junior Amateur at the Daniel Island Club in Charleston, S.C., with a 1-over par 70-74—144 scorecard. Seeded 51st, in the first round, he defeated 14th-seed, Pepperdine freshman William Walsh, 4 & 2; in round two, he bested Georgia teenager and No. 46 seed Jack Roberts, 1-up; and in the third round, he earned a 3 & 1 win over Hunter Stetson, a high school senior from Pennsylvania and the No. 30 seed. In the quarterfinals, he lost 2-up to the No. 6 seed Joshua Bai, a New Zealand teenager and eventual runner-up overall.
While in the United States, he recorded three top six finishes in AJGA competition: third in the Jim Click Automotive-HSL Properties Championship (72-76-71—219, +3); fifth in the SERI PAK Desert Junior (70-71-75—216, E); and sixth in the Huntsville Junior (73-73-67—213, -3). He also tied for 36th in the North and South Junior Amateur (70-73-78—221, +5) in Pinehurst, N.C.
Back home in China, he competed in five CLPGQ Gionee·Zhaoqing Series events this season, with two runner-up, two fourth place and one 10th place finishes. In those 15 rounds, he owned a 70.7 stroke average; on two occasions, he had 10-under 206 efforts (69-68-69 in Series 1; 69-67-70 in Series 2). He also played one CLPGQ Xiamen Series event (No. 2), where he finished second, one stroke out of the top spot, with a 70-70-72—212 (-4) score.
In addition, he has competed in over 15 professional events in China, including two impressive efforts in the nation's top tour. He tied for fifth in the China Tour's 2022 Mitsubishi Electric Open, where he was the top amateur, one of just two to make the cut, in the 84-man field with a 72-73-73-73—291 (3-over) score. Playing alongside numerous pros, he had 10 birdies and 49 pars overall. That same year, he also tied for 39th – the third low amateur – in the Hainan Golf Open (73-75-70-74—292, +4).
(He also played in the 2023 Mitsubishi Electric Open, with a 75-74-75-71—295 effort – 7-over – this time finishing tied for 38th but as the fourth low amateur.)
In 2022, he won the JSBC National Junior Championship Final by three strokes (68-69-69—206, -10) … He also finished third in the China Amateur Golf Open Series Final (75-70-70-74—289, +1), six off the lead in the event open to all ages, and also took third in the China Junior Golf Open (73-75—148, +4), five back of first. He had a fourth place finish in the China Junior Golf Classic (71-73-72-76—292, +4).
He has a twin brother, Zekun, who often has caddied for him, including in this year's U.S. Junior Am. He has signed to play golf at UC-Santa Barbara.
At this time, Edwards does not anticipate adding to his 2024 recruiting class; last week, he signed Wyoming prep phenom Parker Paxton to a letter of intent.
"Michael and Parker together make for a tremendous recruiting class and both have a chance to be spectacular players," Edwards said. "Combining our existing team with this class, we couldn't be more excited for the future."
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