Borja, Schulz Announce Return for 2023-24 Season
5/3/2023 11:56:00 AM | Women's Golf
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan women's golfers Hailey Borja and Mikaela Schulz have announced today (Wednesday, May 3) they both will be returning for the 2023-24 season utilizing the COVID-19 season of competition waiver granting them an additional year of eligibility.
In addition to playing another full season, Borja will continue to work towards her sport management degree as well as her minor in business at U-M's prestigious Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Schulz will begin a master's program in social work after graduating with a degree in biopsychology, cognition & neuroscience in the spring.
"I am so excited to have the opportunity to return," said Borja. "This is a very special place and this program has meant so much to me and my family. Having the chance to contribute, lead, mentor and finish my degree was something I couldn't, and wouldn't, turn down."
"I am thrilled at the opportunity to develop my golf game for another year and continue my academic pursuits at the University of Michigan," said Schulz. "These past four years have been incredible and I have grown in so many ways in all areas of my life. I didn't even think of passing up the opportunity to play another year. It truly is my home away from home."
Over the past four years, Borja and Schulz have been instrumental in helping Jan Dowling's Wolverine program reach new heights despite navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. In the regular season, the duo has helped the Wolverines to four team titles, as well as Schulz winning the 2019 Shirley Spork Invitational and the 2021 Wolverine Invitational at the U-M Golf Course.
After the 2020 postseason was canceled, Michigan had a runner-up at the Big Ten Championships in 2021. The following season, U-M made history claiming the program's first-ever conference title by four shots over Michigan State. Including this season's NCAA regional invitation, the Maize and Blue has three straight invitations to the postseason. In fact, U-M has advanced to back-to-back NCAA Finals finishing 20th in 2021 as well as 2022.
"We welcome Hailey and Mikaela back with open arms," said Dowling. "We are thrilled they chose to complete their extra year of eligibility with us. They bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, maturity and work ethic to our young team. They have been so instrumental in elevating our program to new heights over the last four years. They have lofty goals for themselves and our program, and we are fortunate they will lead this team for another year."
The first four-time All-Big Ten golfer at U-M, Borja has not missed an event in four seasons, playing in 38 consecutive. She has carried a 73.34 career scoring average with 27 sub-par rounds becoming just the second Wolverine to record 20-plus in a career (Ashley Lau, 30). In both of her NCAA Finals appearances, she has advanced as an individual to the final round tying for fifth (2021; 286, -2) and tying for 13th (2022; 292).
Averaging 73-plus per round in each of her four seasons, she is averaging a career-low this season at 73.09. Additionally, she has tied her career low shooting a round of 68 on three occasions (five total in career) and tallied a career-low 54-hole total of 207 (-6) at the 2022 Mercedes-Benz Collegiate (Sept. 19-20).
Schulz has been part of the backbone of the U-M lineup starting 27 of 31 career events, averaging 75.68 per round throughout her career. She has four top-10 finishes and nine sub-par single-round tallies, including a career-low 67 (-5) in the second round of the 2021 Landfall Tradition (Oct. 29-31) as she led U-M tying for 10th.
Still not finished with the 2022-23 season, Borja and Schulz and their Wolverine teammates head to the NCAA Westfield Regional, Monday through Wednesday (May 8-10) at the Club in Chatham Hills in Westfield, Ind. The Maize and Blue will be looking for a top-five finish to advance to a third straight NCAA Final.
Players Mentioned
