Sampson Zheng, a 24-year-old golfer, is setting his sights high as he prepares for the upcoming National Games and harbors ambitions for Olympic glory. Zheng is eager to represent Shaanxi at the National Games, which will take place from November 9 to 21, 2025, in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Macau.
Zheng's journey in golf began at the age of nine in Japan, where his family resided for several years. He later moved to the United States to pursue his sporting ambitions and eventually earned an economics degree from the University of California, Berkeley. While at Berkeley, Zheng excelled in collegiate golf, securing one victory and achieving 12 top-10 finishes.
Now, Zheng is focused on helping Shaanxi defend their team title at the National Games. He admitted to feeling "a little left out" four years ago and is now excited to be part of the team. He is also motivated to perform well, perhaps even outperforming his former college roommate, Aaron Du. Zheng was recruited to the Shaanxi team by famed Chinese golfer Zhang Xinjun.
The National Games is considered China's highest multi-sport event and is held every four years. For Zheng, success at the National Games could serve as a springboard to achieving his ultimate dream: competing in the Olympics.
Zheng turned professional with a clear mission to play his way onto the PGA Tour and ultimately win the Masters Tournament. He recently graduated from UC Berkeley and finished 14th on PGA Tour University, a program designed to identify top college golfers in the United States and provide them with a pathway to the PGA Tour.
In May 2024, Zheng competed in The Beachlands Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist, which took place in British Columbia, Canada.
Zheng's accomplishments include tying for first at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate Invitational in 2023. He also placed fifth in back-to-back events at The Goodwin and the Western Intercollegiate. Additionally, he tied for 10th at the Pac-12 Championships and tied for seventh in the NCAA Morgan Hill Regional.
Zheng's personal interests include reading, cooking, and fishing. He speaks three languages and originally hails from Tianjin, China, though he was raised in Nagoya, Japan.
