It has been a historic February for the Eastern Michigan University golf programs, as the Mid-American Conference (MAC) recently announced a clean sweep of weekly honors for the Eagles. On Feb. 20, the conference office named twins Janae and Jasmine Leovao the MAC Women’s Golfers of the Week, while freshman Robby Turnbull secured the Men’s Golfer of the Week accolade. These awards come on the heels of standout performances in California and Alabama, signaling a powerhouse season for both squads as they climb the national rankings.
A sibling act in the desert
The Leovao sisters, juniors from Oceanside, California, returned to their home state to lead the No. 33-ranked EMU women’s team to a stellar second-place finish at the Alice & John Wallace Invitational in Palm Desert. Competing at the Monterey Country Club from Feb. 14-16, the twins displayed remarkable consistency, each firing a matching Even-par 213 to tie for fourth place individually.
The significance of their performance cannot be overstated, as the field featured 10 teams ranked in the national top 100, including three in the top 11. The Eagles managed to place ahead of No. 11 University of California, Los Angeles and No. 10 Vanderbilt University, finishing only behind the No. 2-ranked University of Southern California.
Individually, both sisters etched their names further into the EMU record books. Janae Leovao’s second-round 67 stands as the third-lowest round in program history, while Jasmine’s final-round 68 ranks as the eighth-lowest. Their combined efforts led the team to a total score of 861, the second-lowest team score ever recorded by the program. This marks Janae’s third top-five finish of the year and Jasmine’s fourth in just five events.
The honors are a testament to the depth of the women's roster. This season alone, EMU women have captured five MAC weekly awards; both Leovao sisters have now won twice, and junior Baiyok Sukterm earned the recognition on Oct. 10.
Freshman phenom rises in Alabama
While the women were conquering the West Coast, freshman Robby Turnbull was making waves in the South. At the Hal Williams Collegiate in Mobile, Alabama, held Feb. 16-17, Turnbull turned in the best performance of his young collegiate career.
Tying for sixth place, Turnbull finished the tournament at 7-under-par 203 (69-67-67). This score is tied for the fourth-lowest three-round total in EMU men's golf history. Perhaps most impressive was Turnbull’s ability to remain under par in every single round, a feat that saw his national ranking skyrocket 294 spots to No. 511.
Turnbull’s performance anchored a No. 120-ranked Eagles team that punched well above its weight class. The men finished in fourth place, defeating five teams ranked significantly higher, including No. 53 Rice, No. 57 South Alabama, No. 58 Memphis, and No. 67 Nebraska. Turnbull personally finished ahead of nine players ranked in the top 200 and three in the top 60.
A season of accolades
The men’s program is no stranger to the winner's circle this year. Before Turnbull’s breakout, Charlie Box dominated the fall season, claiming MAC Golfer of the Week honors three times (Oct. 3, Oct. 10, and Nov. 7).
Looking ahead
The momentum is not expected to slow down anytime soon. The women’s team is preparing for a major milestone as they return to California on March 9-10. They will join University of Southern California as co-hosts of the inaugural GameAbove Invitational at Rolling Hills Country Club, a high-profile event that will bring some of the nation's best talent to the Eagles' home turf.
Meanwhile, the men will head to Humble, Texas, on March 17-18 to compete in the All-American Collegiate at the Golf Club of Houston.
With both teams consistently defeating top-tier Power Five programs and rewriting the school record books, the 2025-26 season is shaping up to be one of the most decorated in Eastern Michigan golf history.
