A historic milestone for Eastern Michigan University
In a landmark achievement for the Eastern Michigan University (EMU) women's golf program, senior Janae Leovao has been named a WGCA All-America Honorable Mention. This recognition, announced on June 2, 2026, marks the first time in program history that an EMU women's golfer has earned All-America honors from the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA). Leovao's accolade serves as the crowning achievement of a season defined by "firsts," as she was the primary catalyst for the Eagles' rise to national prominence.
Dominance from the first tee
Leovao, an Oceanside, California native who transferred to EMU from Long Beach State, made an immediate impact upon her arrival in Ypsilanti. In her lone season with the Eagles, she set a new program record with a scoring average of 71.8 strokes per round. Her season began with unprecedented success as she captured individual victories in the first two tournaments of the year: The Southern (Sept. 8-9) and the Leadership & Golf Invitational (Sept. 15-16). This feat marked the first time the Eagles opened a season with back-to-back individual and team champions.
Throughout the 2025-26 campaign, Leovao displayed remarkable consistency, appearing in 12 tournaments and securing top-20 finishes in all five spring events. Her adjusted scoring average for the year was an even more impressive 70.8, and she maintained a formidable head-to-head record of 809-143-27 across all competitions. According to the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), she reached a best rank of 134th globally, supported by 12 top-10 finishes and two wins over the last 104 weeks.
Leading the Eagles through a magical postseason
Leovao’s leadership was most evident when the stakes were highest. She helped guide the Eagles to their first-ever NCAA Regional berth after a strong performance at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships, where she tied for ninth place. Her efforts earned her a spot on the All-MAC First Team and three separate MAC Golfer of the Week awards.
The postseason momentum continued at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional, where Leovao tied for seventh place, helping the fifth-seeded Eagles secure a fourth-place finish and advance to the NCAA Championships for the first time. On the national stage, Leovao tied for 23rd place individually, a performance that helped the Eagles finish fifth overall and qualify for the elite NCAA Match Play portion of the tournament.
Taking down the giants: Match play prowess
The Eagles' "magical" run culminated in a tie for third place nationally after reaching the semifinals of the NCAA Match Play. During this run, EMU, ranked 27th at the time, pulled off a historic upset by defeating the No. 4-ranked University of Texas, 3-1.
Leovao played a pivotal role in this upset by facing off against the top-ranked players in collegiate golf. She delivered a stunning 5 and 4 victory over Farah O'Keefe, the 2026 individual champion from Texas. In the semifinal match against No. 1 Stanford, Leovao was narrowily trailing (1-down) against the nation’s No. 2 player, Paula Marin Sampedro, when the match was halted. Her ability to compete at the highest level against "Power 4" powerhouses solidified her status as one of the elite golfers in the country.
A rare achievement outside the "Power 4"
The significance of Leovao’s All-America status is underscored by the exclusivity of the honor. She was one of only seven players not representing a "Power 4" school to be recognized by the WGCA this year. The majority of honorees came from traditional golf powerhouses like Stanford University and the University of Southern California, which each boasted five All-Americans. To be selected, Leovao's profile was rigorously reviewed by the WGCA Awards Committee, which evaluated national rank, head-to-head results, and win-loss records.
Legacy and the future of EMU Golf
Janae Leovao’s single season at Eastern Michigan has fundamentally altered the trajectory of the program. By leading the team to its first regional, first national championship appearance, and a top-three national finish, she has set a new standard for EMU Athletics. As she finishes ranked No. 46 in the final national rankings, her historic All-America honor ensures that her name will remain a permanent fixture in the record books of both Eastern Michigan University and collegiate golf.
