Eastern Michigan Athletics
Monday, October 8
EagleCrest Golf Course
All Day
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Shirley Spork Invitational
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Women's Golf to Host Shirley Spork EMU Invitational
10/7/2018 3:49:00 PM | Women's Golf
The event will take place at Eagle Crest Golf Club, Oct. 8-9
Live Scoring.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — For the second consecutive year, the Eastern Michigan University women's golf program will host a tournament on the team's home course at Eagle Crest Golf Club, Oct. 8-9. The Shirley Spork Invitational begins on Monday at 9 a.m. with 36 holes of continuous play. The final round is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m.
Joining EMU on the par 72, 6,176-yard setup will be Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Cleveland State, Dayton Loyola-Chicago, Oakland, Ohio, Purdue Fort Wayne, and Western Michigan. Michigan will also be sending individual competitors as well in the field of 62.
Named in honor of the first female inducted into the E-Club Hall of Fame in 1981, Shirley Spork began her golf career early in life. She started playing with one club, a putter, at age 10. While attending then-MSNC, Spork won the Women's District Match Play Championship three times in four years. In 1947, she was the winner of the first-ever National Collegiate Championship held for women's athletics, plus she was the victor of the 1949 Michigan Amateur.
After graduation, Spork became a teacher in the Detroit public schools, but realized she would much rather be playing golf. She turned professional in 1950 and played the tour but along the way, realized she was still a teacher and in 1959 along with Marilynn Smith, Betty Hicks and Barbara Rotvig, she founded the LPGA's Teaching and Club Professional Division.
Spork was the first LPGA professional to conduct golf clinics in foreign countries and was a two-time LPGA Teacher of the Year (1959, 1984). She was the chairperson of the LPGA T&CP Division from 1960-66, and received the Meritorious Service Award in 1989 and the Byron Nelson Award in 1994.
Last year, Marshall was crowned as the inaugural champion with a 896 (302-294-300=896), while Western Michigan's Julia Champion was the individual medalist with a 218 (71-74-73).
All eight Eagles are scheduled to compete for the Green and White. Playing as a team will be sophomore Preaw Sripatrprasite (Bangkok, Thailand-Siam International), junior Maria Connelly (Waterville, Ohio-Anthony Wayne), senior Penelope Guilleux (Saint Maur Des Fosse, France-Arsonval), freshman Abby Livingston (Novi, Mich.-Novi), and senior Kritsuda Apiwatthanadol (Bangkok, Thailand-Somtawin Witead Suska Huaymongkhon School). Playing as individuals will be junior Julia Stevenson (Milford, Mich.-Milford), junior Katelin Lawson (LaSalle, Ontario-Ridge Community-University of Tampa), and Green Apichonlati (Bangkok, Thailand-The Regent's International School).
Fans can track live scoring through GolfStat.com.
2018 Field (10 Teams / 62 Players):
Bowling Green State University + 1 Individual
Central Michigan University + 1 Individual
Cleveland State University
Eastern Michigan University + 3 Individuals
Loyola University-Chicago
Oakland University + 1 Individual
Ohio University + 1 Individual
Purdue Fort Wayne + 1 Individual
Western Michigan University + 1 Individual
University of Dayton + 1 Individual
University of Michigan (2 Individuals Only)
The course:
Eagle Crest Golf Club in Ypsilanti, Mich. -- 6,170 yards, par 72.
Schedule of Events:
Sunday, Oct. 7
Practice facilities open (2 p.m. shotgun for practice rounds)
Monday, Oct. 8
9 a.m. – Rounds 1 & 2 shotgun start (continuous play)
Tuesday, Oct. 9
9 a.m. – Round 3 shotgun start
Live scoring:
Will be available through GolfStat:
Who Is Shirley Spork:
The first female inducted into the E-Club Hall of Fame in 1981, Shirley Spork began her golf career early in life. She started playing with one club, a putter, at age 10 when she lived near Bonnie Brook Golf Course in Detroit, Mich. Throughout high school, Spork would participate in the annual City Championship at Palmer Park Municipal, which was only a nine-hole event. While attending then-MSNC, Spork won the Women's District Match Play Championship three times in four years. In 1947, she was the winner of the first-ever National Collegiate Championship held for women's athletics, plus she was the victor of the 1949 Michigan Amateur.
After graduation, Spork became a teacher in the Detroit public schools, but realized she would much rather be playing golf. She turned professional in 1950 and played the tour but along the way, realized she still was a teacher and in 1959 along with Marilynn Smith, Betty Hicks and Barbara Rotvig, she founded the LPGA's Teaching and Club Professional Division.
Spork was the first LPGA professional to conduct golf clinics in foreign countries and was a two-time LPGA Teacher of the Year (1959, 1984). She was the chairperson of the LPGA T&CP Division from 1960-66, and received the Meritorious Service Award in 1989 and the Byron Nelson Award in 1994.
The Course
Opened in 1989, and was originally designed by Karl Litten of Boca Raton, Florida. In 2012, Eagle Crest underwent major renovations under the direction of architect Jim Lipe. On Oct.1, 2013, the Eastern Michigan Board of Regents passed a resolution to name the golf course Roy E. Wilbanks Eagle Crest Golf Club. It was through his vision and consistency of commitment that Eagle Crest Resort is such a significant part of the EMU and Ypsilanti community. The par-72 course provides golfers with one of the most challenging yet fair and fun tests of golf in southeast Michigan. With four sets of tees providing a variety of options and sightlines for all golfers, the course stretches to a length of 6,911 yards, with a course rating of 73.0 and a slope rating of 142 from the championship markers.
Previous Champion:
2017 - Marshall (302-294-300=896) Julia Champion, Western Michigan (71-74-73=218)
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — For the second consecutive year, the Eastern Michigan University women's golf program will host a tournament on the team's home course at Eagle Crest Golf Club, Oct. 8-9. The Shirley Spork Invitational begins on Monday at 9 a.m. with 36 holes of continuous play. The final round is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m.
Joining EMU on the par 72, 6,176-yard setup will be Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Cleveland State, Dayton Loyola-Chicago, Oakland, Ohio, Purdue Fort Wayne, and Western Michigan. Michigan will also be sending individual competitors as well in the field of 62.
Named in honor of the first female inducted into the E-Club Hall of Fame in 1981, Shirley Spork began her golf career early in life. She started playing with one club, a putter, at age 10. While attending then-MSNC, Spork won the Women's District Match Play Championship three times in four years. In 1947, she was the winner of the first-ever National Collegiate Championship held for women's athletics, plus she was the victor of the 1949 Michigan Amateur.
After graduation, Spork became a teacher in the Detroit public schools, but realized she would much rather be playing golf. She turned professional in 1950 and played the tour but along the way, realized she was still a teacher and in 1959 along with Marilynn Smith, Betty Hicks and Barbara Rotvig, she founded the LPGA's Teaching and Club Professional Division.
Spork was the first LPGA professional to conduct golf clinics in foreign countries and was a two-time LPGA Teacher of the Year (1959, 1984). She was the chairperson of the LPGA T&CP Division from 1960-66, and received the Meritorious Service Award in 1989 and the Byron Nelson Award in 1994.
Last year, Marshall was crowned as the inaugural champion with a 896 (302-294-300=896), while Western Michigan's Julia Champion was the individual medalist with a 218 (71-74-73).
All eight Eagles are scheduled to compete for the Green and White. Playing as a team will be sophomore Preaw Sripatrprasite (Bangkok, Thailand-Siam International), junior Maria Connelly (Waterville, Ohio-Anthony Wayne), senior Penelope Guilleux (Saint Maur Des Fosse, France-Arsonval), freshman Abby Livingston (Novi, Mich.-Novi), and senior Kritsuda Apiwatthanadol (Bangkok, Thailand-Somtawin Witead Suska Huaymongkhon School). Playing as individuals will be junior Julia Stevenson (Milford, Mich.-Milford), junior Katelin Lawson (LaSalle, Ontario-Ridge Community-University of Tampa), and Green Apichonlati (Bangkok, Thailand-The Regent's International School).
Fans can track live scoring through GolfStat.com.
2018 Field (10 Teams / 62 Players):
Bowling Green State University + 1 Individual
Central Michigan University + 1 Individual
Cleveland State University
Eastern Michigan University + 3 Individuals
Loyola University-Chicago
Oakland University + 1 Individual
Ohio University + 1 Individual
Purdue Fort Wayne + 1 Individual
Western Michigan University + 1 Individual
University of Dayton + 1 Individual
University of Michigan (2 Individuals Only)
The course:
Eagle Crest Golf Club in Ypsilanti, Mich. -- 6,170 yards, par 72.
Schedule of Events:
Sunday, Oct. 7
Practice facilities open (2 p.m. shotgun for practice rounds)
Monday, Oct. 8
9 a.m. – Rounds 1 & 2 shotgun start (continuous play)
Tuesday, Oct. 9
9 a.m. – Round 3 shotgun start
Live scoring:
Will be available through GolfStat:
Who Is Shirley Spork:
The first female inducted into the E-Club Hall of Fame in 1981, Shirley Spork began her golf career early in life. She started playing with one club, a putter, at age 10 when she lived near Bonnie Brook Golf Course in Detroit, Mich. Throughout high school, Spork would participate in the annual City Championship at Palmer Park Municipal, which was only a nine-hole event. While attending then-MSNC, Spork won the Women's District Match Play Championship three times in four years. In 1947, she was the winner of the first-ever National Collegiate Championship held for women's athletics, plus she was the victor of the 1949 Michigan Amateur.
After graduation, Spork became a teacher in the Detroit public schools, but realized she would much rather be playing golf. She turned professional in 1950 and played the tour but along the way, realized she still was a teacher and in 1959 along with Marilynn Smith, Betty Hicks and Barbara Rotvig, she founded the LPGA's Teaching and Club Professional Division.
Spork was the first LPGA professional to conduct golf clinics in foreign countries and was a two-time LPGA Teacher of the Year (1959, 1984). She was the chairperson of the LPGA T&CP Division from 1960-66, and received the Meritorious Service Award in 1989 and the Byron Nelson Award in 1994.
The Course
Opened in 1989, and was originally designed by Karl Litten of Boca Raton, Florida. In 2012, Eagle Crest underwent major renovations under the direction of architect Jim Lipe. On Oct.1, 2013, the Eastern Michigan Board of Regents passed a resolution to name the golf course Roy E. Wilbanks Eagle Crest Golf Club. It was through his vision and consistency of commitment that Eagle Crest Resort is such a significant part of the EMU and Ypsilanti community. The par-72 course provides golfers with one of the most challenging yet fair and fun tests of golf in southeast Michigan. With four sets of tees providing a variety of options and sightlines for all golfers, the course stretches to a length of 6,911 yards, with a course rating of 73.0 and a slope rating of 142 from the championship markers.
Previous Champion:
2017 - Marshall (302-294-300=896) Julia Champion, Western Michigan (71-74-73=218)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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