Chambana Sun

Illinois women's golf head coach Renee Slone has announced the addition of Yingyuan Liu to the program's 2026 signing class. Liu, who is from Beijing, China, will join the Fighting Illini for the 2026-27 season.

Liu brings a record of achievements in junior and amateur golf. Her recent accomplishments include winning the 2025 Super Lychee National Amateur Golf Championship and the 2025 Visit Pullman Junior Championship. She also finished tied for second at the 2025 Brandon Wu Championship and was runner-up at the 2024 Volvo Junior National Championship. In 2023, she won the Buick National Junior Golf Elite Championship in Beijing and placed tied for third at the HSBC National Junior Golf Finals. Liu was selected as a member of the Chinese National Junior Golf Team in 2024 and has been named a National First-Class Golfer three times between 2022 and 2024.

In her statement about joining Illinois, Liu said: "I know Illinois women's golf is focused on holistic development, which is consistent with my philosophy. I really want to balance my academics and golf, to make progress in both areas. Moreover, the training conditions are excellent and the atmosphere for student-athletes is fantastic. All of the coaches are very kind and pay great attention to communicating with the players."

Coach Slone commented on Liu's growth as a player: "Yingyuan's game has grown immensely in the past year and in particular the past six months following a period of dedicated training leading to success in several professional tournaments in China as well as AJGA events here in the US. Her uplifting energy will add to our team dynamic."