Eastern Michigan University junior and co-captain, Alyssa Kwon, withstood a very competitive field at the par 71, 6, 112 yard Wolverine Invitational at the U-M Golf Course this past weekend.
Kwon, along with Alicia Weber from Michigan and Meghan MacLaren from Florida International, shot an overall score of 227 to finish in a tie for first place in the individual part of the tournament.
Kwon had the second most birdies in the tournament with five even given the cold temperatures, windy conditions, rain and hail that made the course a challenge at times in the tournament.
She also has been battling a lingering cold over the past several weeks.
“She [Kwon] has been sick for a few weeks now and she just kept pushing on,” EMU women’s golf coach Sandy Wagner said. “I am so proud of her as her coach. She has really worked hard and it has shown in her golf game.”
This victory was Kwon’s first career tournament title. This is also the second time that a fellow EMU student has snagged first place during the Wolverine Invitational.
Other notable EMU performances include senior Sarah Johnson shooting an overall 234, 79-74-81, to finish tied for 13th.
Senior and co-captain Meredith Fairbairn had another great showing by shooting an overall 236, 79-83-74, to finish tied for 17th.
As a team, EMU had an outstanding performance finishing in a tie for third place along with Xavier and Illinois shooting an overall score of 933 in the 14-team field that included Michigan, Florida International, Akron, Butler, Bucknell, Delaware, Ferris State, Georgetown, Grand Valley State, Illinois, North Texas, Toledo and Xavier.
“That is good to see from a coaching perspective. It shows the maturity of the squad that is playing. Improving from round to round is a team goal of ours and it just shows that there is heart in this team. Never give up,” Wagner said.
EMU’s next tournament is Oct. 1-2 at the Johnie Imes Invitaional in Columbia, Mo.