The Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program has been assisting families combat the high cost of golf for the last 14 years. Two players in this week’s Enagic Junior Championship—Michael Zhang and Sung Eun Park—have earned college golf scholarships, with the help of the ACE Grant.
Park will be attending the University of Pennsylvania in the fall where she hopes to major in economics. “It’s just so great to be playing golf at the same time I’m studying there,” Park said. “I knew I wanted to study economics, so it’s a great fit for me.”
Attending an Ivy League college for academics and golf is not something Park believed possible before the help of the ACE Grant came. “It might have been difficult for me because my sister also plays golf and to support two golfers in the family is tough, and the ACE grant definitely helped me. I’m very grateful for it,” Park said.
Zhang is excited to begin the next stage of his life at California State University Northridge, where he plans on majoring in business management. “It feels good, I really like the school a lot and I’m excited to play on their team,” Zhang said.
The ACE Grant impacted Zhang and Park enough to support charities of their choice through the Leadership Links program. All donations received directly benefited the ACE Grant.
“It was so great to have the ACE Grant support me through the AJGA and I thought that if I could give back it would be so much better,” Park said.
“I just want give back to others,” Zhang said.
In 2015, Zhang and Park enjoyed success on the golf course. Zhang played in five AJGA events, finishing inside the top-15 twice. Park also played in five AJGA events and placed inside the top-15 three times.
Both players expressed how honored they are to be able to play AJGA events. “The AJGA definitely gave me exposure to college coaches, and playing national level tournaments helped me become a better golfer,” Park said.
“It means a lot just to play AJGA events, and getting a great scholarship to play golf means a lot too,” Zhang said.
Best of luck to Zhang and Park as they move forward to college.