Golf looks to build on off-season success

Members of both golf teams took experience they gained over the school season into this summer’s amateur tournaments, which they now will bring back with them to Eastern Michigan.

The biggest success was Cam Burke’s victory at the Canadian Amateur on Aug. 14. Burke shot a 10-under 274 (70-68-67-69) to win by four strokes. Christopher Ross placed fourth (72-68-69-70 -- 279). Burke earned a spot in the 2009 RBC Canadian Open with the win.

“It says a lot about where Cam’s game is at,” coach Bruce Cunningham said. “To win your country’s amateur championship is a great honor. Chris and Cam have had very consistent results at a very high level.”

Stephany Fleet placed second at the Golf Association of Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship in July at Walnut Hills Country Club in East Lansing. Fleet shot 150 (73-77) in stroke play and advanced to the finals of match play before Laura Bavaird defeated her.

Burke looked to carry his momentum into the U.S. Amateur Championship, which was Aug. 18-24, where he joined former teammate Graham Hill at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in Pinehurst, N.C. After shooting an even-par 70, Burke shot 78 and missed the cut by three strokes. Hill shot 142 (74-68) in stroke play, but lost in the round of eight in match play.

“It’s an incredible accomplishment for these guys,” Cunningham said. “It says a lot about for our program to have two guys in this tournament. Our guys have played very consistent all summer. Guys like Marty Jeppesen, Brandon Lemons and Brad Larente have taken the success they had last season and brought it to these summer tournaments.”

Cunningham said he was very happy with how his players played this summer.
The men’s first match is the Rees Jones Intercollegiate on Sept. 7 at Daufuskie Island, S.C. The Eagles will look to defend their back-to-back conference titles and hope to reach NCAA Finals.

“Being back-to-back MAC Champs brings about a certain expectation,” Cunningham said. “We have a lot of players with a great deal of experience at the MAC and NCAA level. The championship culture we have, alongside the added maturity we’ve gained, should put us back in the hunt this season.”

Last year EMU lost in the NCAA Central Regional but it has Cunningham ready to take his team to the next level.

“We were so close last year and we were motivated to work hard this summer,” said Cunningham. “Our main goal is to win the MAC and then work our way toward the NCAA Finals.”

The women open their season at the Wolverine Invitational Sept. 13-14 in Ann Arbor.