Men's Golf Signs Shong to NLI
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico men’s golf team has added one more to its already talented squad with the addition of junior college transfer Brandon Shong. Shong signed his NLI to compete as a Lobo next season on Thursday.
A native of Sydney, Australia, Shong comes to the reigning Mountain West Champion Lobos after spending two seasons with Ranger College in Ranger, Texas. During the 2019-20 season, Shong was ranked second nationally in NJCAA Division I on Golfstat with a 69.13 scoring average.
“Brandon has excelled in the classroom while leading one of the best programs in the NJCAA last season,” head coach Glen Millican said. “His performance on and off the course has shown he can come to UNM and provide an immediate impact on our program in the fall. His priorities are in line with what our program emphasizes and I am looking forward to having him join our group of upperclassmen in the fall.”
In 2019, Shong was named Ping All-District and an NJCAA Division I Second Team All-American, while claiming the individual championship at the NJCAA Division I National Preview tournament in Odessa, Texas with a final score of eight under (70, 66). That season, he was ranked 10th nationally in Golfstat with a 71.56 scoring average.
In his career he has posted several marked performances including runner up at the 2019 High Country Shootout in Ruidoso, N.M. where he shot a course-record 62 (-10) with scores of 70, 62 and 68. He finished the runner up at the 2020 Camp Bowie Intercollegiate with a final score of -9 and also tied for 10th overall at the 2019 NJCAA Division I National Championship with a score of -4 while finishing tied for fourth at the NMMI Invitational in Roswell, N.M.
“UNM offers everything I need on the golfing side and in academics. The coaches, especially Coach Millican, with his vast experience and success is a big reason I have chosen UNM,” Shong said. “The great history of the golf program also helped me in my decision.
“This team has a great chance of winning more conference championships and going on a deep run in the National Championship – and that is something I want to be a part of.”