Zheng Debuts At No. 18 In PGA TOUR U Preseason Rankings for Cal

California menā€™s golfer Sampson Zheng is No. 18 in PGA TOUR Universityā€™s preseason ranking for the class of 2024. The rankings were announced Wednesday with Zheng among the top-25 rising seniors eligible for PGA TOUR University in the upcoming 2023-24 season.

Zheng is coming off one of the best individual seasons in program history, having finished the 2022-23 campaign ranked 15th and 30th nationally by Golfstat and Golfweek, respectively, after shooting 41-under par with a stroke average of 69.83 across 31 rounds played in 10 events. Zheng placed inside the top 10 individually six times, finished 22nd or better in all 10 events played and recorded 14 total rounds in the 60s. He was a co-medalist at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate and added a runner-up effort that helped Cal win the team title at the Alister Mackenzie Invitational. He also recorded back-to-back fifth-place finishes at The Goodwin and the Western Intercollegiate, and tied for seventh place in the NCAA Morgan Hill Regional.

Zheng was named to the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) All-America second team and the All-Pac-12 first team at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season. Shortly after the collegiate season finished, Zheng went on to win the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship alongside Cal teammate Aaron Du, and participated in the Arnold Palmer Cup.

In partnership with the World Amateur Golf RankingĀ® (WAGRĀ®), PGA TOUR University ranks players based on the last two years of their collegiate careers. Eligible tournaments include NCAA Division I menā€™s team competitions, official PGA TOUR tournaments and select DP World Tour events. The No. 1 player in the final PGA TOUR University Ranking next May will earn PGA TOUR membership, while players Nos. 1-5 (fully exempt) and Nos. 6-10 (conditional) will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership. Additionally, players Nos. 6-20 will earn fully exempt membership for the North America Swing of PGA TOUR Americas.

Since the first class graduated in June 2021, PGA TOUR University alumni have earned 13 professional victories.

Zheng and the Golden Bears open the 2023-24 collegiate season at the Marquette Intercollegiate on Sept. 3-5.