Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Tim Cowie/Tim Cowie Photography
Fletcher Welcomes Trio of New ’Cats on National Signing Day
11/13/2019 2:24:00 PM | Women's Golf
EVANSTON, Ill. — Head Coach Emily Fletcher announced the addition of three student-athletes to the Northwestern women's golf program Wednesday as a part of National Signing Day.
Jennifer Cai (Irvine, Calif./Sage Hill School), Charlotte Hillary (Englewood, Colo./Kent Denver School) and Jieni Li (Hangzhou, Zhejiang) will join the Wildcats as members of the Class of 2024.
"I am thrilled to welcome Charlotte, Jieni and Jennifer to our NU Golf family," Fletcher said. "This trio has already demonstrated a deep love and commitment to all things Northwestern. This class is ready to contribute immediately to the ongoing legacy of our program winning championships and excelling in the classroom."
Complete bios of the student-athletes are below.
Jennifer Cai • Irvine, California • Sage Hill School (Newport Coast)
Has posted seven top-15 finishes in American Junior Golf Association tournaments … Finished fourth at the 2019 ClubCorp Mission Hills Desert Junior … Tied for sixth at the 2019 AJGA Senior Showcase … Posted another top-10 finish by finishing tied for seventh at the AJGA Junior at Yolo Fliers … Tied for seventh at the 2017 AJGA Junior All-Stars at Lost Springs presented by Visit Bentonville … Tied for fourth at the CIF/SCGA SoCal Girls High School Championship … Tied for fifth at the 2018 SoCal Girls Junior Amateur Golf Championship and Champion of the 2018 Junior PGA Section Championship … 2019 AJGA Scholastic Junior All-American Team … Named Girls' Varsity Golf Most Valuable Player in 2017 and 2018 … Earned All-Orange County Girls' Golf First-Team honors in 2018 …. Selected to represent golf as a female high school student to attend the 18th Annual Celebration of Women in Sports
Personal: Works with Never Ever Give Up Jessie Rees Foundation to stuff JoyJars with toys to provide encouragement and love to childhood cancer patients … Other interests include piano, reading and tennis … National Merit semifinalist … Plans to pursue a Pre-Law path as an undergraduate.
Coach Fletcher Says: "Jennifer is an outstanding young woman with an exemplary work ethic. She's going to lead our team on multiple levels."
Charlotte Hillary • Englewood, Colorado • Kent Denver School
Top-ranked high school player in Colorado … 2019 Colorado Player of the Year … 2019 Colorado Golf Hall of Fame "Future Famer" award recipient … Has 17 top-15 finishes in American Junior Golf Association events … Earned medalist honors at the 2019 AJGA Junior at Big Sky in convincing fashion … Finished runner up at the 2018 Tathata Golf Junior All-Star Championship … Also finished tied for second at the 2017 Hale Irwin Colorado Junior by Transamerica … Tied for third at the 2019 AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior … Finished tied for fifth at the 2018 AJGA Junior at Lost Springs presented by Visit Bentonville … Posted a sixth-place finish at the 2019 Sergio and Angela Garcia Foundation Junior Championship presented by Callaway Golf … Tied for seventh at both the 2017 Tathata Golf Junior All-Star Championship and AJGA Junior All-Star presented by Greg Normal Champions Golf Academy … Finished eighth at the 2018 Under Armour®/Alison Lee Championship presented by Irvine Technology Company … Three-time All-State honoree … Named Kent Denver School Most Valuable Player three times.
Personal: Volunteers at First Tee of Green Valley Ranch Colorado … Member of Leadership Links … Participates in Mock Trial … Head of School's List … Grandfather is a graduate of Northwestern.
Coach Fletcher says: "Charlotte is a proven winner with strong ball-striking skills. She loves to compete and our team will benefit from her intensity."
Jieni Li • Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Has four wins and nine top-10 finishes … Claimed the 2018 Hong Kong Junior Open Championship … Earned medalist honors at the 2018 China Junior Golf Future Stars Series U18 and HSBC China Junior Champions Leg 3 … Claimed her most recent victory at the 2019 CJGT Team Championship Southern China Leg … Finished runner up at the 2018 Hong Kong Ladies Open Amateur & Mid-Amateur Championship … 2018 HSBC Hangzhou Match Play MVP … Posted a third-place finish at the 2018 China Amateur Tour Leg … Finished sixth at the 2018 HSBC National Junior Champions Leg 1 … Finished 25th at the 2019 Women's Wester Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne Country Club
Personal: Other interests include piano, skateboarding and Chinese history … Has competed against current Wildcats Jane Lu … Plans to major in learning and organizational change.
Coach Fletcher says: "Jieni is a strong, dynamic player with a focused desire to keep improving. I love this quality and know we have the sources to facilitate it."
Jennifer Cai (Irvine, Calif./Sage Hill School), Charlotte Hillary (Englewood, Colo./Kent Denver School) and Jieni Li (Hangzhou, Zhejiang) will join the Wildcats as members of the Class of 2024.
"I am thrilled to welcome Charlotte, Jieni and Jennifer to our NU Golf family," Fletcher said. "This trio has already demonstrated a deep love and commitment to all things Northwestern. This class is ready to contribute immediately to the ongoing legacy of our program winning championships and excelling in the classroom."
Complete bios of the student-athletes are below.
Jennifer Cai • Irvine, California • Sage Hill School (Newport Coast)
Has posted seven top-15 finishes in American Junior Golf Association tournaments … Finished fourth at the 2019 ClubCorp Mission Hills Desert Junior … Tied for sixth at the 2019 AJGA Senior Showcase … Posted another top-10 finish by finishing tied for seventh at the AJGA Junior at Yolo Fliers … Tied for seventh at the 2017 AJGA Junior All-Stars at Lost Springs presented by Visit Bentonville … Tied for fourth at the CIF/SCGA SoCal Girls High School Championship … Tied for fifth at the 2018 SoCal Girls Junior Amateur Golf Championship and Champion of the 2018 Junior PGA Section Championship … 2019 AJGA Scholastic Junior All-American Team … Named Girls' Varsity Golf Most Valuable Player in 2017 and 2018 … Earned All-Orange County Girls' Golf First-Team honors in 2018 …. Selected to represent golf as a female high school student to attend the 18th Annual Celebration of Women in Sports
Personal: Works with Never Ever Give Up Jessie Rees Foundation to stuff JoyJars with toys to provide encouragement and love to childhood cancer patients … Other interests include piano, reading and tennis … National Merit semifinalist … Plans to pursue a Pre-Law path as an undergraduate.
Coach Fletcher Says: "Jennifer is an outstanding young woman with an exemplary work ethic. She's going to lead our team on multiple levels."
Charlotte Hillary • Englewood, Colorado • Kent Denver School
Top-ranked high school player in Colorado … 2019 Colorado Player of the Year … 2019 Colorado Golf Hall of Fame "Future Famer" award recipient … Has 17 top-15 finishes in American Junior Golf Association events … Earned medalist honors at the 2019 AJGA Junior at Big Sky in convincing fashion … Finished runner up at the 2018 Tathata Golf Junior All-Star Championship … Also finished tied for second at the 2017 Hale Irwin Colorado Junior by Transamerica … Tied for third at the 2019 AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior … Finished tied for fifth at the 2018 AJGA Junior at Lost Springs presented by Visit Bentonville … Posted a sixth-place finish at the 2019 Sergio and Angela Garcia Foundation Junior Championship presented by Callaway Golf … Tied for seventh at both the 2017 Tathata Golf Junior All-Star Championship and AJGA Junior All-Star presented by Greg Normal Champions Golf Academy … Finished eighth at the 2018 Under Armour®/Alison Lee Championship presented by Irvine Technology Company … Three-time All-State honoree … Named Kent Denver School Most Valuable Player three times.
Personal: Volunteers at First Tee of Green Valley Ranch Colorado … Member of Leadership Links … Participates in Mock Trial … Head of School's List … Grandfather is a graduate of Northwestern.
Coach Fletcher says: "Charlotte is a proven winner with strong ball-striking skills. She loves to compete and our team will benefit from her intensity."
Jieni Li • Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Has four wins and nine top-10 finishes … Claimed the 2018 Hong Kong Junior Open Championship … Earned medalist honors at the 2018 China Junior Golf Future Stars Series U18 and HSBC China Junior Champions Leg 3 … Claimed her most recent victory at the 2019 CJGT Team Championship Southern China Leg … Finished runner up at the 2018 Hong Kong Ladies Open Amateur & Mid-Amateur Championship … 2018 HSBC Hangzhou Match Play MVP … Posted a third-place finish at the 2018 China Amateur Tour Leg … Finished sixth at the 2018 HSBC National Junior Champions Leg 1 … Finished 25th at the 2019 Women's Wester Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne Country Club
Personal: Other interests include piano, skateboarding and Chinese history … Has competed against current Wildcats Jane Lu … Plans to major in learning and organizational change.
Coach Fletcher says: "Jieni is a strong, dynamic player with a focused desire to keep improving. I love this quality and know we have the sources to facilitate it."
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