Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Sign Talented Pair to National Letters of Intent
11/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
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Head Coach Emily Fletcher (left) and assistant coach Beth Miller (right) have signed another top-notch recruiting class for their program
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head coach Emily Fletcher announced today the addition of another top-notch recruiting class with a pair of future Wildcats signing National Letters of Intent. Stephanie Lau (Fullerton, Calif./Valley Christian High School) and Janet Mao (Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek High School) will matriculate to Evanston in the fall of 2015.
Both members of the duo are ranked among the top-45 of their recruiting class by Junior Golf Scoreboard and are in the top-100 among all current junior players in the country according to the same publication.
"We are ecstatic to have Stephanie and Janet joining our program," Fletcher said. "I know they will both make significant contributions immediately. "I just love their enthusiasm for all things Northwestern."
A 2014 AJGA Rolex Junior All-America selection, Lau is rated 13th in the country among her class and 26th overall by Junior Golf Scoreboard. She showed an ability to go low with scores of 6-under 65 and 3-under 68 helping her win the 2014 Winn Grips Heather Farr Classic. She qualified for the 2014 AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions and finished 18th in that event. She has compiled 11 top-10 finishes in her junior career.
"Stephanie is one of the most impressive players I have seen in junior golf and when you couple that with her calm demeanor, you understand why she was such a highly sought after player," Fletcher said. "She is a complete player who will do great things."
Mao made an impressive surge on the junior scene late in the summer of 2014. Mao posted four top-20 finishes in July and August including a 17th-place result at the USGA Girls Junior Championship, a 16th-place finish at the Junior PGA Championship and a 13th-place effort at the AJGA Girls Championship. One of just 12 junior players nationwide to earn the 2014 AJGA HP Scholastic All-America honor, Mao also qualified for the 2014 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship.
"Janet had an impressive summer and we had our eye on her every step of the way," Fletcher said. "We were so excited when Janet decided on Northwestern. Janet's strong work ethic is going to serve her and our program well!"
The incoming duo joins a program coming off back-to-back 15th-place finishes at the NCAA Championships. Northwestern currently is ranked eighth in the country according to Golfstat.com following its four-tournament fall season. Three different Wildcats in the program's very deep roster already have been named Big Ten Golfer of the Week this season.
Full biographies of Northwestern's incoming Class of 2019 are below:
Stephanie Lau
Fullerton, Calif.
Junior Career: Ranked 13th in the nation among her signing class and 26th overall among all junior players by Junior Golf Scoreboard ... 2014 American Junior Golf Association Rolex Junior All-American ... Two-time AJGA champion ... Won the 2014 Winn Grips Heather Farr Classic, opening that tournament a 6-under 65 and closing with a 3-under 68 for the victory ... Medalist at the 2013 AJGA Junior at Ruby Hill ... Qualified for the 2014 AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions where she finished 18th among a field of 132 ... Also had top-15 finishes during the summer of 2014 at the Scott Robertson Memorial (13th) and Yani Tseng Invitational presented by Swinging Skirts (14th) ... Qualified for the field at the 2014 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship ... Has 11-career top 10 finishes in junior events and 19 top-20 results.
Janet Mao
Johns Creek, Ga.
Junior Career: One of 12 girls named an American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) HP Scholastic All-American in 2014 ... With a breakout summer of 2014, jumped into a top-100 ranking among all junior players and is 44th in her class according to Junior Golf Scoreboard ... Finished in the top-20 in each of her final four tournaments in 2014 against strong fields, beginning with a fifth-place effort at the E-Z-GO Vaughn Taylor Championship presented by TaylorMade-Adidas Golf ... Was 17th at the USGA Girls Junior Championship, 16th at the Junior PGA Championship and ended the summer with a 13th-place finish at the AJGA Girls Championship ... Qualified for the 2014 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship ... Had five top-20 results in the summer of 2013 including a third-place result at the AJGA Junior at Tedesco and a T20 at the AJGA Girls Championship.
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