TUSCALOOSA, AL – After wrapping up her high school golf career at DeSoto Central High School, Zae'Ja Davis thought that she was through with competitive golf. A call to try out for a new team at Northwest Mississippi Community College in the fall of 2024 opened the door to keep her career going.

"When I first started playing, I didn't think I would be in this situation, playing college golf," Davis, who hails from Southaven, said. "I was just up doing my day-to-day basics, and I got a call from the coach saying they wanted us to try out and be a part of the team, and I found that opportunity a great one."

Junior college women's golf in Mississippi was in its infancy, with only a handful of full teams across the state. Davis has been one of the groundbreakers in many ways.

Not only was Davis one of the first members of the Rangers, but she was also the first African American female golfer at the NJCAA level for a Mississippi junior college to tee off in tournament action. Representing both her race and her sex isn't something that she takes lightly, either.

"The pressure is all on us," Davis said. "It's kind of hard for us women. They don't look up to us as much because we are girls and not like the top men."

Head Women's Golf Coach Adam Payne said that while it's a cool honor to be first, what he is most proud of is how Davis has approached it. Adding that she has been an incredible ambassador and representative for not just the Rangers but herself.

 "Zae'Ja has grown so much as a player, person, and a leader. She has helped build something that will last a while at Northwest. I couldn't ask for any more out of her. She is always the first to load the van, always at workouts, her grades are strong, but the biggest growth I've seen is in her leadership."

The Rangers went through three different head coaches in the opening season, and it wasn't the most comfortable year. But sticking through it, by the end of the season, the Rangers had received a chance to play in the national tournament. New head coach Adam Payne brought some consistency, and Davis said she was a major beneficiary of that.

"The first year was kind of hard," she said. "We didn't really get the coaching that we wanted to help us, but when (Coach Payne) came, we changed a lot as a team, as individuals. We really improved a lot because we got the coaching that we need, the development we need, and it's little changes every day that help us to improve."

It wasn't just a coaching change that helped Davis through that opening year. There was a family tie as well with her sister Carinton also joining the team. That was something that Davis said not only made her more comfortable but also helped to push her to be better.

"It was nice to have someone by my side when I didn't know anybody," she said. "Us being in school together, playing golf together, was really good, and helped build a good connection between us as well, since we played the same sport."

"Even at practice, just because we are sisters, we still try to compete with each other, and there were sometimes it got serious, but I guess I can let her have it. She would beat me, but it was nice to have someone by my side, her supporting me, me supporting her."

While her sister isn't a part of the Rangers this season, the support has still been there, from both Carinton and from her mother, Willia, and father, Sammy. Those family ties have

"The support from my mom, dad, and sister, I love it," Davis said. "They support me through everything. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have the shoes that I have, the clubs that I have, the clothes that I have. They really push through and make sure they give everything and are here when they can. I know they are supporting where they are at, and I can feel it. And I love them for that."

With all of the support and a new coach who has given stability at practice and on the course, the sophomore season for Davis took off. After averaging 107.6 during her freshman year, Davis has consistently broken into the 90's during her sophomore campaign. That improvement has carried to the national tournament, where all three of her rounds have been 95 or better, putting her in a position to be in the top half of the national field.

With that, attention has also started to build, and new opportunities are beginning to present themselves. This includes moving on to levels that Davis didn't even dream of, such as an offer from an NCAA Division I program.

"I didn't think after this level, I would get those looks or go anywhere," Davis said. "I didn't think a DI would look at me, but when Coach called and told me that someone was offering me at DI, I was surprised. Little old me, making changes every day and trying to better myself. I do want to go up to the next level. I try to work so hard, and that's why I can beat myself up a little bit about not shooting what I know I can shoot. Because I want to look good for other teams."

The attention isn't something that Payne is surprised by. He said the work ethic and the leadership that Davis has shown since he has been in charge of the program have been more than impressive. She has helped to continue to set the tone for what he hopes the Northwest program can become.

"Zae'Ja is an amazing individual who has huge opportunities in front of her," Payne said. "She's being looked at by a Division I school, and that only happens through hard work and great leadership. I hope every school in the state one day gets the opportunity to have a Zae'Ja because she is such a special person."

For Davis, that's just who she is, and now this is what she is expecting from herself, and with the confidence growing in her game, more doors should continue to open for the Ranger.

"I have confidence in myself, and I know I can do what I want to do, and I can have high expectations and complete them," Davis said.