Golf Inks Two for 2023-24
11/10/2022 11:30:00 AM | Men's Golf
HOUSTON — Rice golf coach Justin Emil announced on Thursday the addition of two student-athletes for the 2023-24 season. Joining the Owls will be Jaivir Pande (Houston, Texas) and Reggie Zhu (Winter Garden, Fla.).
"These two young men combine for one of the most well-rounded recruiting classes our program has had," said Emil. "They are accomplished players with wins at the highest level of junior golf. Reggie and Jaivir have thrived in handling heavy academic loads while devoting time and energy to their sport. We can't wait to have these two join us as our program is on the rise."
Pande won the 96th Texas Junior Amateur, birdieing the final hole to win by one stroke. He had four Top-20 finishes on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Tour, including a runner-up at the UHY St. Louis Junior. In 2020, he was named to the AJGA's Junior All-Star Team. He also finished second at the Texas Junior Golf Tour's (TJGT) Masters/IMG World Qualifier, finishing 10-under par. In 2021, he won the National Drive, Chip and Putt Championship, played at Augusta National Golf Course. As a sophomore at Kinkaid High School, he set the record for lowest scoring average in school history with a 69.9. He followed that by averaging 70.3 strokes as a junior.
Zhu is the 2022 Florida Junior Tour's (FJT) points champion after earning seven Top-10 finishes. He's a three-time winner on the FJT, claiming titles at the FJT Duran, the Harbor Hills Open and the Sugar Mill Open, where he fired a season-best 65. He was a member of the North team at the 2021 Junior Florida Cup and this year, was named to the Florida State Golf Association's Team Florida as one of the Top 40 junior golfers in the state of Florida. On the AJGA Tour, he had five Top 20 finishes this year, including a tie for third-place at the Mizuno/Keith Mitchell Junior Championship in July.
"These two young men combine for one of the most well-rounded recruiting classes our program has had," said Emil. "They are accomplished players with wins at the highest level of junior golf. Reggie and Jaivir have thrived in handling heavy academic loads while devoting time and energy to their sport. We can't wait to have these two join us as our program is on the rise."
Pande won the 96th Texas Junior Amateur, birdieing the final hole to win by one stroke. He had four Top-20 finishes on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Tour, including a runner-up at the UHY St. Louis Junior. In 2020, he was named to the AJGA's Junior All-Star Team. He also finished second at the Texas Junior Golf Tour's (TJGT) Masters/IMG World Qualifier, finishing 10-under par. In 2021, he won the National Drive, Chip and Putt Championship, played at Augusta National Golf Course. As a sophomore at Kinkaid High School, he set the record for lowest scoring average in school history with a 69.9. He followed that by averaging 70.3 strokes as a junior.
Zhu is the 2022 Florida Junior Tour's (FJT) points champion after earning seven Top-10 finishes. He's a three-time winner on the FJT, claiming titles at the FJT Duran, the Harbor Hills Open and the Sugar Mill Open, where he fired a season-best 65. He was a member of the North team at the 2021 Junior Florida Cup and this year, was named to the Florida State Golf Association's Team Florida as one of the Top 40 junior golfers in the state of Florida. On the AJGA Tour, he had five Top 20 finishes this year, including a tie for third-place at the Mizuno/Keith Mitchell Junior Championship in July.
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