By Alex Riley
Special to SMUMustangs.com

DALLAS – Michelle Zhang knew exactly where she wanted to be. 

Back in 2020, she had strung together a strong run of junior golf tournaments, finishing four straight events as individual runner-up. Zhang's next outing on the links was scheduled to be the Under Armour/Jordan Spieth Championship at Trinity Forest Golf Club, a course close to home but one she knew could be difficult to navigate. 

She went into the tournament with subdued expectations. She came away a champion. 

"After that, I was like, 'I think Trinity loves me. I've got to stay at Trinity Forest,'" Zhang said with a laugh. "This course really matches how I play."

Having Trinity Forest as a home golf course was the icing on Zhang's recruitment to SMU as the three-time Rolex Junior All-American decided to stay in the Metroplex, help elevate the Mustang program and play at a course she truly loves. 

That's what makes this weekend's home event, the Trinity Forest Invitational, so important. 

Zhang's passion for the sport stems from an early age. She hit the links for the first time at six-years old while living in China. When her family decided to give Zhang an English name in kindergarten, her father went with a tribute to LPGA icon Michelle Wie. Her younger brother got a similar designation, being named Justin after PGA standout Justin Rose. 

The family moved to the Frisco area when Zhang was young to create more educational and athletic opportunities. 
Along with All-American honors and plenty of junior success, Zhang also qualified for the 2022 U.S. Open at Southern Pines in North Carolina back in June. It turned out to be a full circle moment. 

Zhang crossed paths with Wie in the dining hall at the event, recounting the story of her father's naming decision back when she was younger. It's a story Wie mentioned in interviews discussing her retirement, noting she'd been around long enough that people were naming their children after her. 

"She was like, 'Oh, you make me feel so old,'" Zhang said. 

More than that, it was an experience Zhang will never forget. Aside from the grandeur of a major sporting event, she got to play against some of the best professional and amateur golfers in the world, finishing nine-over for the two rounds she got to play. 

"It was incredible. I've never played a tournament like that," Zhang said. "At the moment, you feel like you're one of them and then you get humbled after shooting your score."

That experience is something Zhang has carried into her first year as a college golfer. During the fall season, she finished top 25 individually at every event, helping SMU earn first or second as a team in five of six tournaments played. 

"She's been a very important player on our team in helping turn things around this fall and spring," SMU coach Lauren Mason said. "She definitely loves it out there. We have one of the best facilities in the nation and she's definitely a grinder and somebody who puts in the time and effort."

With the spring portion of the season now in full swing, Zhang and the Mustangs are looking to get back on that kind of track with this weekend's home event. With family able to watch, Zhang is eager to play on a course she is familiar with. It's a big reason why she's here. 

"I'm super excited and I feel like I have a good history with the course," Zhang said. "If I win any tournament this year, I hope it's Trinity Forest."