Photo by: Columbia University Athletics
Women's Golf Announces Signing Class of 2021
5/10/2021 9:20:00 AM | Women's Golf
Paige Harrison and Taylor Zeng join the Columbia women's golf program in September 2021.
NEW YORK—Columbia women's golf coach Amy Weeks officially announced the program's Class of 2021 recruiting class on Monday. Columbia will welcome two golfers to the 2021-22 team including Paige Harrison (Castaic, Calif./West Ranch H.S.) and Taylor Zeng (Windermere, Fla./The First Academy).
"I'm excited to welcome our first-years Taylor Zeng and Paige Harrison," Weeks said. "After all of the challenges throughout the pandemic, adding fresh faces and talent will be great for our program and its trajectory. Also, it feels like we will have four first-years, since Allison and Anne haven't suited up yet! We are excited to get back onto the course and be competitive with our pack of lions!"
Harrison and Zeng join seven returning letterwinners including seniors Alexis Florio, Marlene Tartaro, and Jennifer Wang, juniors Christine Shao and Annie Sun, and sophomores Allison Paik and Anne Walsh.
2020 WOMEN'S GOLF SIGNEES
PAIGE HARRISON
First-Year | 5-4 | Castaic, Calif./West Ranch H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
A 2021 graduate of West Ranch High School in Valencia, Calif., where she played one year of varsity golf for Head Coach Jeffrey Holen … Registered three top-5 finishes and three top-10 finishes in American Junior Golf Association events from 2017-19 … Finished career with 17 wins on the SCPGA Junior Golf Tour from 2014-19 … Ranked sixth in the state of California for the Class of 2021 on the JGS in 2018 … Won a total of five two-day VCJGA championship tournaments from 2013-18 … Two-time VCJGA Taylormade Tour Champion in both 2014 an 2016 … Shot a 2-under-par 70 and earned an opportunity to play for first place at an AJGA Open event in Colorado … Finished in 10th place at the Los Angeles Junior Championship in 2019 … Finished third with a best round of 72 at an AJGA Open event in Oregon in 2017 … Shot a three-day total of 71-74-71-216 at an AJGA All-Star event in Ohio in 2016 … Shot a 73 to receive first alternate honors at the Las Vegas USGA Junior Girls Championship qualifier in 2019 … Played high school golf for only her freshman season … Earned First Team All-Foothill League honors as a freshman … Guided West Ranch to the Foothill League title in 2017 … Finished second in the Foothill League for lowest stroke average behind a UCLA commit (88.2) … Made the cut for the CIF-Southern Section Playoffs in 2017 … Top scorer on West Ranch golf team with a 1-under-par 35 at the TPC Valencia in 2017 … Earned English honors and member of NEHS for one year … Heavily involved in volunteer and community service activities at her high school … Along with her sister, founded For the Love of People club in 2015, which helps gather family and friends in order to participate in local community service activities … Community service activities included picking up trash from the Santa Clara River, putting together care packages for families in need, sewing blankets for the homeless, and playing Bingo with elderly at local homes … Served on the advisory board for Students for Safe Water … Campaigned for clean water and sanitation systems in less fortunate countries … Member of the Linked Leaders community, where she guided 10 freshmen students through their high school years.
PERSONAL
Born Paige Harrison on November 1, 2002 in Valencia, Calif. … Daughter of Michael and Ginger Harrison … Has an older sister Bailey and younger sister Danielle … Father works as a sports agent/lawyer and played college basketball at Olivet College … Mother works for the Los Angeles Police Department … Sister Bailey attends Southern California as a broadcast journalism major … Hobbies and interests include volunteering, scrapbooking, painting, exploring the outdoors, being with friends, going to the beach, and listening to new and 80s music … As a child actor, was booked for several commercials including Little Caesars and more … Has a pet pig named Mabel … Played the drums … Role model is her father because he is the hardest worker she knows and he inspires her to be the same way and achieve lofty goals … Favorite sports memory was winning a VCJGA tournament for the second time in honor of her late grandfather … Favorite holiday gift was a book from her sister, Zen Golf, by Joseph Parent … Visited the Columbia campus many times as a kid and loved it … Met Columbia women's golf coach Amy Weeks at a golf camp and they instantly clicked … Chose Columbia for its diversity, different cultures within and surrounding the university, the golf team and the ability to further her passion of learning from one of the best institutions in the world, along with the endless job opportunities in New York City … Selected Columbia over offers from Notre Dame, Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgetown, and Princeton … Enrolled at Columbia College … Intends to major in Business Management/Economics.
TAYLOR ZENG
First-Year | 5-9 | Windermere, Fla./The First Academy
HIGH SCHOOL
A 2021 graduate of The First Academy in Orlando, Fla., where she played six years of varsity golf for Head Coach Chris Bateman … Registered four American Junior Golf Association top-5 finishes … Placed third at the AJGA Candian Open Championships … Named one of the AJGA's Players to Watch … Shot a 5-under-par and won individual championship at the FJT Banyon Run … In 2019, won the Rio Pinar Championship (78.74) and Banyan Run Championship (67-72), with a second place finish in the 3-day championship (74 on final day) as part of the Florida Junior Tour … Tied for sixth at the AJGA University Club Championship (75-74-76) in July 2019 … Tied for ninth at the AJGA Dominican Republic Championship (76-78-76) in August 2019 … Shot a 75 at the 2018 USGA Women's Amateur Championship and a 75 at the 2018 U.S. Girls Championship qualifying … Played in a variety of AJGA national events in 2018 including the Canadian Junior Championship (8th place, 73-73-72), Killington Junior Championship (17th place, 75-74-76), AJGA Junior at Saddle Brook (6th place, 71-75-73), and St. Francisville Foundation Junior (5th place, 72-75-77) … Also competed on the 2018 Florida Junior Tour with an third place finish at Lake Jovita (79-71), eighth place finish at CC of Winter Haven (72-76), and seventh place finish at Eagle Harbor (80-74) … In 2017, shot a 73 at the U.S. Girls Junior Championship Qualifying event, and 68 at the Women's Amateur Four Ball Qualfying … Took third place at the Under Armour Canadian Championship (72-70-69), sixth place at the All-Star at Calmet (81-66-73), tied for seventh at the Jim Bell Memorial (82-77-76), 13th place at the AJGA Fords Colony (73-78-82), and 20th place at the EMoney.com Junior Championship (84-77-81) … Also competed on the 2017 Florida Junior Tour with a third place finish at Falcon Fire (76-75), fourth place finish at the Girls Junior Amateur Championship (74-73-70), ninth at CC at Winter Haven (78-78), 10th at Southwood (75-77), and 10th at FJT Tour Championship (81-75) … Named the Royals' Player of the Year in 2019 … Won 2019 Individual Honda Classic title … Helped guide The First Academy to the nation's No. 1 program ranking from 2017-20 … From 2014-19, led the Royals to two Class 1A state championships (2017 and 2018), two Class 1A state runner-up finishes (2016 and 2019), five regional titles, five district titles, and five Honda Classic Invitational championships … Team combined to shoot a 13-under-par at the 2019 Honda Classic Invitational … Named Two-time golf team captain … National Honor Society member … AP Scholar and Royal Scholar student … Served as The First Academy Royal Ambassador Chair … Volunteered to teach golf to youth.
PERSONAL
Born Taylor Victoria Zeng on August 23, 2002 in Orlando, Fla. … Daughter of Victor and Jennifer Zeng … Has three sisters Courtney, Kelsey, and Ava … Sister Courtney Zeng played golf at Vanderbilt (2015-19) … Sister Kelsey played golf at Stanford (2017-21) … Father attended Virginia Tech and Cornell for a Master's degree … Mother attended Xi'an Jiaotong … Nickname is Tay … Hobbies and interests include fashion design, baking, modeling, knitting, painting/sketching, and volunteering … Modeled clothing for LeAnnere, JParker Ladies, and Descente … Came in contact with Columbia Head Coach Amy Weeks during her junior year of high school … Favorite sports memory was winning the Honda Classic as a team and breaking the course record … Chose Columbia because it was the best environment for her to improve on both her golf game and academics … Also chose Columbia because of the unlimited opportunities, innovative research, supportive community and unique experience of being inside a bubble in one of the greatest universities in the world … Favorite things about New York City include the incredible food, never-ending list of things to do, and the incredible energy … Also, the art museums, diversity, busy lifestyle, food, opportunities to meet new people … Selected Columbia over offers from Dartmouth, Georgetown, Boston College, Brown, Princeton, Yale, and Penn … Enrolled at Columbia College … Intends to major in Psychology … Has a career goal to work for Vogue Magazine.
ARTICLES
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-hs-first-academy-golf-sisters-china-20141012-story.html
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/highschool/os-sp-hs-tfa-golf-1101-20191031-x3dvykg7xzfarnqxwjr3takdgu-story.html
https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/sports/2019/10/25/tfa-girls-golf-team-eyes-down-third-straight-team-title--duo-named-athletes-of-the-week-
"I'm excited to welcome our first-years Taylor Zeng and Paige Harrison," Weeks said. "After all of the challenges throughout the pandemic, adding fresh faces and talent will be great for our program and its trajectory. Also, it feels like we will have four first-years, since Allison and Anne haven't suited up yet! We are excited to get back onto the course and be competitive with our pack of lions!"
Harrison and Zeng join seven returning letterwinners including seniors Alexis Florio, Marlene Tartaro, and Jennifer Wang, juniors Christine Shao and Annie Sun, and sophomores Allison Paik and Anne Walsh.
🏌️♀️@CULionsWGolf announces its 2021 signing class:
— Columbia Womens Golf (@CULionsWGolf) May 10, 2021
☑️Paige Harrison
☑️Taylor Zeng
🔗 https://t.co/qZBDkfWbTG#RoarLionRoar #GoColumbiaLions pic.twitter.com/yPItvRG9Qf
2020 WOMEN'S GOLF SIGNEES
| Player | Height | Hometown/Previous School |
| Paige Harrison | 5-4 | Castaic, Calif./West Ranch H.S. |
| Taylor Zeng | 5-9 | Windermere, Fla./The First Academy |
PAIGE HARRISON
First-Year | 5-4 | Castaic, Calif./West Ranch H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL
A 2021 graduate of West Ranch High School in Valencia, Calif., where she played one year of varsity golf for Head Coach Jeffrey Holen … Registered three top-5 finishes and three top-10 finishes in American Junior Golf Association events from 2017-19 … Finished career with 17 wins on the SCPGA Junior Golf Tour from 2014-19 … Ranked sixth in the state of California for the Class of 2021 on the JGS in 2018 … Won a total of five two-day VCJGA championship tournaments from 2013-18 … Two-time VCJGA Taylormade Tour Champion in both 2014 an 2016 … Shot a 2-under-par 70 and earned an opportunity to play for first place at an AJGA Open event in Colorado … Finished in 10th place at the Los Angeles Junior Championship in 2019 … Finished third with a best round of 72 at an AJGA Open event in Oregon in 2017 … Shot a three-day total of 71-74-71-216 at an AJGA All-Star event in Ohio in 2016 … Shot a 73 to receive first alternate honors at the Las Vegas USGA Junior Girls Championship qualifier in 2019 … Played high school golf for only her freshman season … Earned First Team All-Foothill League honors as a freshman … Guided West Ranch to the Foothill League title in 2017 … Finished second in the Foothill League for lowest stroke average behind a UCLA commit (88.2) … Made the cut for the CIF-Southern Section Playoffs in 2017 … Top scorer on West Ranch golf team with a 1-under-par 35 at the TPC Valencia in 2017 … Earned English honors and member of NEHS for one year … Heavily involved in volunteer and community service activities at her high school … Along with her sister, founded For the Love of People club in 2015, which helps gather family and friends in order to participate in local community service activities … Community service activities included picking up trash from the Santa Clara River, putting together care packages for families in need, sewing blankets for the homeless, and playing Bingo with elderly at local homes … Served on the advisory board for Students for Safe Water … Campaigned for clean water and sanitation systems in less fortunate countries … Member of the Linked Leaders community, where she guided 10 freshmen students through their high school years.
PERSONAL
Born Paige Harrison on November 1, 2002 in Valencia, Calif. … Daughter of Michael and Ginger Harrison … Has an older sister Bailey and younger sister Danielle … Father works as a sports agent/lawyer and played college basketball at Olivet College … Mother works for the Los Angeles Police Department … Sister Bailey attends Southern California as a broadcast journalism major … Hobbies and interests include volunteering, scrapbooking, painting, exploring the outdoors, being with friends, going to the beach, and listening to new and 80s music … As a child actor, was booked for several commercials including Little Caesars and more … Has a pet pig named Mabel … Played the drums … Role model is her father because he is the hardest worker she knows and he inspires her to be the same way and achieve lofty goals … Favorite sports memory was winning a VCJGA tournament for the second time in honor of her late grandfather … Favorite holiday gift was a book from her sister, Zen Golf, by Joseph Parent … Visited the Columbia campus many times as a kid and loved it … Met Columbia women's golf coach Amy Weeks at a golf camp and they instantly clicked … Chose Columbia for its diversity, different cultures within and surrounding the university, the golf team and the ability to further her passion of learning from one of the best institutions in the world, along with the endless job opportunities in New York City … Selected Columbia over offers from Notre Dame, Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgetown, and Princeton … Enrolled at Columbia College … Intends to major in Business Management/Economics.
TAYLOR ZENG
First-Year | 5-9 | Windermere, Fla./The First Academy
HIGH SCHOOL
A 2021 graduate of The First Academy in Orlando, Fla., where she played six years of varsity golf for Head Coach Chris Bateman … Registered four American Junior Golf Association top-5 finishes … Placed third at the AJGA Candian Open Championships … Named one of the AJGA's Players to Watch … Shot a 5-under-par and won individual championship at the FJT Banyon Run … In 2019, won the Rio Pinar Championship (78.74) and Banyan Run Championship (67-72), with a second place finish in the 3-day championship (74 on final day) as part of the Florida Junior Tour … Tied for sixth at the AJGA University Club Championship (75-74-76) in July 2019 … Tied for ninth at the AJGA Dominican Republic Championship (76-78-76) in August 2019 … Shot a 75 at the 2018 USGA Women's Amateur Championship and a 75 at the 2018 U.S. Girls Championship qualifying … Played in a variety of AJGA national events in 2018 including the Canadian Junior Championship (8th place, 73-73-72), Killington Junior Championship (17th place, 75-74-76), AJGA Junior at Saddle Brook (6th place, 71-75-73), and St. Francisville Foundation Junior (5th place, 72-75-77) … Also competed on the 2018 Florida Junior Tour with an third place finish at Lake Jovita (79-71), eighth place finish at CC of Winter Haven (72-76), and seventh place finish at Eagle Harbor (80-74) … In 2017, shot a 73 at the U.S. Girls Junior Championship Qualifying event, and 68 at the Women's Amateur Four Ball Qualfying … Took third place at the Under Armour Canadian Championship (72-70-69), sixth place at the All-Star at Calmet (81-66-73), tied for seventh at the Jim Bell Memorial (82-77-76), 13th place at the AJGA Fords Colony (73-78-82), and 20th place at the EMoney.com Junior Championship (84-77-81) … Also competed on the 2017 Florida Junior Tour with a third place finish at Falcon Fire (76-75), fourth place finish at the Girls Junior Amateur Championship (74-73-70), ninth at CC at Winter Haven (78-78), 10th at Southwood (75-77), and 10th at FJT Tour Championship (81-75) … Named the Royals' Player of the Year in 2019 … Won 2019 Individual Honda Classic title … Helped guide The First Academy to the nation's No. 1 program ranking from 2017-20 … From 2014-19, led the Royals to two Class 1A state championships (2017 and 2018), two Class 1A state runner-up finishes (2016 and 2019), five regional titles, five district titles, and five Honda Classic Invitational championships … Team combined to shoot a 13-under-par at the 2019 Honda Classic Invitational … Named Two-time golf team captain … National Honor Society member … AP Scholar and Royal Scholar student … Served as The First Academy Royal Ambassador Chair … Volunteered to teach golf to youth.
PERSONAL
Born Taylor Victoria Zeng on August 23, 2002 in Orlando, Fla. … Daughter of Victor and Jennifer Zeng … Has three sisters Courtney, Kelsey, and Ava … Sister Courtney Zeng played golf at Vanderbilt (2015-19) … Sister Kelsey played golf at Stanford (2017-21) … Father attended Virginia Tech and Cornell for a Master's degree … Mother attended Xi'an Jiaotong … Nickname is Tay … Hobbies and interests include fashion design, baking, modeling, knitting, painting/sketching, and volunteering … Modeled clothing for LeAnnere, JParker Ladies, and Descente … Came in contact with Columbia Head Coach Amy Weeks during her junior year of high school … Favorite sports memory was winning the Honda Classic as a team and breaking the course record … Chose Columbia because it was the best environment for her to improve on both her golf game and academics … Also chose Columbia because of the unlimited opportunities, innovative research, supportive community and unique experience of being inside a bubble in one of the greatest universities in the world … Favorite things about New York City include the incredible food, never-ending list of things to do, and the incredible energy … Also, the art museums, diversity, busy lifestyle, food, opportunities to meet new people … Selected Columbia over offers from Dartmouth, Georgetown, Boston College, Brown, Princeton, Yale, and Penn … Enrolled at Columbia College … Intends to major in Psychology … Has a career goal to work for Vogue Magazine.
ARTICLES
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-hs-first-academy-golf-sisters-china-20141012-story.html
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/highschool/os-sp-hs-tfa-golf-1101-20191031-x3dvykg7xzfarnqxwjr3takdgu-story.html
https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/sports/2019/10/25/tfa-girls-golf-team-eyes-down-third-straight-team-title--duo-named-athletes-of-the-week-
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