The Kiwi golfer had a strong campaign on the collegiate golf scene in her sophomore year with the University of Washington, claiming a win and five top-11 finishes. But with her coach retiring, it was a natural point for her to assess heroptions, ultimately deciding to enter the transfer portal.
Her name was in there for less than five minutes before the coach from the University of Texas – one of the top programmes in the country – reached out.
“It was literally like, I put my name in the portal at like, I think it was like 8am and like, literally 8.01am, I got a message from her, or 8.02am so that was really cool,” the 21-year-old told the Herald.
It was a move that made sense for the young Kiwi golfer.
“Texas is obviously ranked really well in the States. I think we’re ranked like 10th or 11th right now. So, it’s definitely a very strong team and we have a really good shot at winning a national championship, which is one of my goals,” she said.
Vivian Lu was part of team She Loves Golf in the Chasing The Fox exhibition event at Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club. Photo / Photosport
“[I want to] get that ring, and I just wanted to be in a better environment, like weather-wise, and also like everyone on my team is very competitive, so I’m getting pushed over there, which will help me get better. That was one of the reasons.”
Lu, who is completing a degree in communications and leadership, began her time with the Longhorns during the fall swing and will resume early next year. She will, however, take time out of her season to return home to New Zealand as one of nine Kiwi golfers invited to play in the Women’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championships at Royal Wellington Golf Club in mid-February.
It will be her sixth appearance in the tournament, which offers massive opportunities for the winner, with invitations to play in three of the five majors later in the year; the AIG Women’s Open, the Amundi Evian Championship and the Chevron Championship.
“I’m actually missing one of my college events to come play the Women’s Amateur,” Lu said.
“Coach was a little reluctant to let me go, but she understood that it was in my home country and I told her that it was really important for me to be here, so she let me go.”
Lu will be joined by Eunseo Choi, Caitlin Maurice, Darae Chung, Emma Zheng, Teresa Wang, Chloe So, Juwon Kim and Cherry Lee in the amateur tournament, with New Zealand boasting the largest contingent of players.
For the Texas golfer, who was competing at home as part of team She Loves Golf in last week’s Chasing the Fox exhibition event, the 2026 edition looks likely to be one of the last Lu will be able to take part in, with plans to go professional in the not-too-distant future.
“I definitely want to make it to the LPGA,” she said of her goals for the future.
“I definitely do want to graduate. I’m so close to graduating. So, I’m definitely going to finish out my degree and then go pro.
“I might head to Q School [qualifying school] at the end of next year, so I can hopefully get some status and then hold on to that so I can go straight to the Epson [Tour] after I graduate, but I haven’t decided on that yet.”
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.
