SAM CHOI CAREER STATS
PEPPERDINE 2022-23: Awarded
GCAA/PING All-American third team honors and
Golfweek All-American honorable mention … Ranked #11 in the PGA Tour University list, #16 by Golfstat and #42 by Golfweek/Sagarin … Awarded
GCAA/PING All-West Region … An
All-WCC first team recipient … Was the
WCC Golfer of the Month (March) ... Averaged 70.97 in 38 rounds … Had five top-10 finishes and 10 top-20 finishes … Took fourth in the Western Intercollegiate with 5-under 205 … Tied for seventh at the NCAA Regionals (72-71-73=216) and at the NCAA Championship stroke play (70-72-67-70=279), leading the Waves on both occasions.
NEW MEXICO: Graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2022 with a degree in liberal arts ... Played four years at UNM ... A three-time All-American for the Lobos (2021 and 2022 GCAA/PING honorable mention, 2020 and 2022 Golfweek honorable mention) ... Collected four-time All-Mountain West Conference first team honors ... The 2019 MWC co-Freshman of the Year ... Had a stroke average of 70.44 in 2021-22, ranking second in New Mexico single-season history ... Ranked 44th by Golfweek/Sagarin and 47th by Golfstat following the 2021-22 season ... Seven top-five finishes in 13 events in his final season, with 26 of 39 rounds at par or better ... Won the 2020 John Burns Intercollegiate and tied for first at the 2021 Mountain West Championships (though fell in a playoff) ... Ranked 29th by Golfstat after the 2020-21 season, when he averaged 70.83 strokes per round ... Helped UNM to team titles at the 2019 and 2021 MWC Championships ... Competed at three NCAA Regionals ... Career scoring average of 71.11 in 122 rounds (59 of them under par) ... A 2022 CoSIDA Academic All-District first team member, and a three-time GCAA All-American Scholar.
AMATEUR/JUNIOR GOLF: Ranked #35 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings at the time of his signing ... Named to the 2020 U.S. Arnold Palmer Cup team ... Played at the 2021 and 2022 U.S. Amateur Championships ... Won the 2021 Maridoe Amateur Championship and the New Mexico-West Texas Amateur ... Won the 2017 SCGA Amateur, becoming the tournament’s youngest winner ever at the age of 17.
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Anaheim (Calif.) Discovery Christian School in 2018 ... Won the 2018 CIF Southern Section title ... Runner-up at the 2017 CIF state championship ... Honored as player of the match 12 times in high school.
PERSONAL: Pursuing a master’s degree in dispute resolution ... Born in Seoul, South Korea ... Son of DooYoung Choi and HyeSook Lim ... Has one sister, Hesed Lee ... Chose Pepperdine because “I’ve heard great things about this golf team and knowing that I will be part of this big-time program is something that I was dreaming about. And I truly believe that Coach Beard and Coach Zambri will make me a better golfer and a better person. I’m looking forward to having some fun with this great group of guys. I know I will be there for them and we will get better every day.”
FAVORITES: Favorites include KJ Choi (pro golfer), Grit (book), Nacho Libre (movie), Friends (TV show), Morgan Wallen (musical artist), mom’s home-cooked meals (food) and pickleball and spikeball (sports other than golf).
