Abby Zhu ’26 was the sole representative of the Andover Golf Team at the Pippy O’Connor Tournament.
The 18th hole saw Abby Zhu ’26 and Angelina Gong from Exeter neck-to-neck in the Pippy O’Connor tournament. Taking her final swing, Zhu claimed her victory as the winner of the Individual Championship Girls title amongst a cohort of 92 girls, representing a number of New England preparatory schools. Hosted by the Ethan Walker School, the tournament was held at the Orchard Golf Club last Monday. Despite being Andover’s sole representative, Zhu had an excellent day on the range.
Zhu began playing golf at the age of eight, inspired by her parents’ love for the sport. Growing up, her father often took her to the driving range, exposing her to the intricacies and artistry of golf.
¨I started playing golf when I was eight, and I started competing pretty shortly after that. My dad used to bring me to the driving range, and my parents both just really enjoyed playing golf. So, I kind of just naturally was into it,” said Zhu.
As most golf tournaments tend to be primarily male-dominated, Zhu was excited to see the female representation at the Pippy O’Connor tournament.
Zhu said, “A lot of times, you see a lot of boys at the tournaments and there’s not that many girls, but it was really nice to see all the girls that were there. I knew a lot of them from outside tournaments but also just because we’ve all played together, and it was nice to see everyone there.”
Although the pressure at larger tournaments can be overwhelming, Zhu has found measures to mitigate her nerves and maintain a clear headspace.
“I’ve been playing golf for a really long time, so for me, I try to trust myself a little bit because I think because I’ve played for so long. I have pretty good fundamentals, and sometimes under pressure, you get nervous about what if my fundamentals aren’t good enough or whatever. But for me, I just have to trust that I can do it. I also have to keep reminding myself not to be afraid and not be tentative because those are some of my tendencies that cause more problems than doing good,” said Zhu.
In order to remain focused throughout the tournaments, which can last over four hours, Zhu prioritizes nutrition and rest. Every couple of holes, Zhu tries to have a snack and take a break when needed.
Zhu said, “It’s hard to stay focused for four and a half hours, but my parents always remind me to keep eating. Eat every three holes, and take breaks when you can. In terms of staying focused, I feel like, especially at the Pippy O’Connor tournament, when I was finishing the 16th hole, I knew that I had a pretty good chance to win or be in contention at least. So, I was feeling a little bit nervous and stuff, and I think just that extra adrenaline kind of kept me more focused.”
Head Coach Brian Faulk ’00, both Zhu’s golf coach and Instructor in Chemistry, praised Zhu for her dedication to golf. As a teacher, he also recognized the challenges of managing athletics and academics at such a high level.
Faulk said, “Abby’s an incredibly talented and dedicated golfer. She really works hard, in season and out of season. I’m really proud of the work she’s put in. She had a great couple of tournaments last summer… She’s also an extremely hard worker in the classroom, too, so I know it’s not easy, but I think she brings a great energy and passion for the game. She’s a great teammate as well.”
