Women’s Golf Adds Dobson, Walker and Zamora to 2022 Recruiting Class
11/10/2021 12:32:00 PM | Women's Golf
The three future Tigers look to join the youthful, yet experienced squad in the fall
COLUMBIA, MO. – Mizzou women's golf head coach Stephanie Priesmeyer announced on Wednesday the news of Addie Dobson (Jacksonville, Ill.), Melanie Walker (Burke, Va.) and Jade Zamora (San Clemente, Calif) as all new additions to the 2022 recruiting class. The three future Tigers look to join Priesmeyer's youthful, yet experienced squad next fall.
Addie Dobson | Jacksonville, Ill. | Routt Catholic High School
Long-hitter Addie Dobson joins the Tigers after a short, yet very successful prep-career. Having picked up a club and played just her very first round in 2018 as a high school freshman, Dobson has showcased impressive success from the start as she advanced to the State Sectional in the first go-around of her career. She carried that momentum into the following year where she became the first female golfer in Routt Catholic High School history to advance and compete in the 2019 IHSA State tournament.
While the COVID-19 pandemic prevented a state tournament from being played in 2020, Dobson returned for her fin al run in 2021 to finish Top-5 in the event, a 66-position jump from just two years prior. Dobson has gone on to tally four Top-20 AJGA finishes as well as four event wins within the last year and a half.
Dobson's talent doesn't stop there. In addition to excelling on the golf course, she has also been a standout in basketball, softball and in the classroom where she was ranked No. 1 in her class academically.
Coach Priesmeyer's Thoughts: "What stands out vividly with Addie is that she is a tremendous athlete, and the sky is the limit with what she will be able to do with her golf game here at Mizzou. She is a three-sport athlete who just picked up golf in 2018. She has shown unbelievable growth in such a short time, and we look forward to working with her next fall. Her length off the tee is a clear strength and that is a great asset to have in our league. She is a fierce competitor and I know she can't wait to be a Tiger."
Melanie Walker | Burke, VA | Robinson Secondary
Melanie Walker joins the Tigers for her collegiate career with a hefty prep resume. Walker had a standout 2021 year where she led her team to the state tournament for the first time since 1989 in addition to securing the 2021 Virginia State High School Girls Open title by five strokes. She went on to place fourth in the spring and third this past fall at the Coed State Championship event. Her consistent stellar performances earned her the recognition of the 2021 USA Today Golfweek High School Golfer of the Year.
Walker has secured Top-10 finishes all four years at the Virginia State High School State Open Championship including her junior year victory. She is a four-time All-State First-Team selection as well as was the high school regional freshman of the year, district freshman of the year, regional medalist, and currently ranked 137th in the Rolex AJGA Rankings.
Competing on the AJGA throughout the fall of 2020, and in 2021, she qualified for two AJGA invitationals – the Annika Invitational (T-47) and the Rolex Girls Junior Championship (T-45). Within a total of nine AJGA Open tournaments, Walker has recorded five Top-10s, four Top-5s, three Top-3s and one win. She ended her final prep season boasting her personal-best season scoring average yet, a 74.5, over the course of 59 rounds.
A successful competitor on the course and in the classroom, Walker has excelled in her academics to say the least as she rounds out with a 4.75 weighted GPA.
"I want to be pushed both on the golf course and at school. After meeting the coaches and touring Mizzou's campus, I could really see myself growing as a student, golfer and individual. I also look forward to competing in the SEC," said Walker.
Coach Priesmeyer's Thoughts: "Melanie is a great recruit for us! She is an accomplished junior golfer with a lot of regional and national experience. She caught our eye after winning the Stan Utley AJGA event we hosted this summer and we are thrilled she will join our program next fall. She is a strong athlete with great length off the tee and is a very thoughtful strategist on the golf course."
Jade Zamora | San Clemente, Calif. | Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Trading in the California coastline for the rolling midwestern hills, Jade Zamora signed on the dotted line of her National Letter of Intent to become a Tiger next fall. Zamora enters her collegiate career with vast prep-career success, most of which has come in recent events.
Most recently, Zamora led her team to a victory after firing a school-record of a 4-under 32 at Coto de Caza's South Course, earning her the recognition of the Orange County and Southern California Girls Athlete of the Week for the second time this fall. Her school records don't stop there as she also holds the lowest scoring average in history with a 73.2. She has been selected for First Team Trinity League all four years.
Zamora has a total of four career wins, three of which came from October 2020 when she went on a hot streak while on the Future Champions Golf tour. She heightens her record even more after claiming runner-up at the California Interscholastic Federation Individual Championship and placing 3rd at the All-Southern California Girls High School Championship.
Coach Priesmeyer's Thoughts: "Jade has great energy, a strong work ethic and has been a consistent competitor for her team. She comes from California which is a State rich in golf talent, but she happened to fall in love with the Midwest when she visited Mizzou this summer. We look forward to Jade making an immediate impact on our team next fall."
