Eastern Michigan Athletics
Monday, October 2
Ypsilanti, Mich.
All Day
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Shirley Spork Invitational
Photo by: Jonathan Knight Photography
Women's Golf to Host Shirley Spork EMU Invitational
9/28/2023 5:19:00 PM | Women's Golf
The event will take place at Eagle Crest Golf Club, Oct. 2-3
Live scoring.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – For the sixth time, the Eastern Michigan University women's golf program will host a tournament on the team's home course at Eagle Crest Golf Club, Oct 2-3. 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.
The tournament will utilize a play-6/count-4 format. Joining EMU on the par 72, 6,159-yard setup will be Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, Green Bay, Oakland, Ohio, Purdue Fort Wayne, and Western Michigan.
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. Among her honors are the 1994 Byron Nelson Award, the 1998 LPGA Ellen Griffin Rolex Award, membership in the inaugural class of the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals Division Hall of Fame in 2000 and a 2002 inductee in the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame. Spork was named one of the inductees into the 2019 Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) of America Hall of Fame. Spork passed away in April 2022 at the age of 94.
EMU's entire roster will be in action led by senior Anna Watson (Ashland, Ohio-Ashland), freshman Riley Kim (Aldie, Va./Lightridge), senior Natai Apichonlati (Bangkok, Thailand/The Regent's International School), senior Sophia Wygonik (Westland, Mich./Livonia Franklin), junior Alyssa DiMarcantonio (Maple, Ontario/Tommy Douglas Secondary School), and senior Paige Zolciak (Perrysburg, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy).
Playing as individuals will be freshman Gabriella Tapp (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon).
Despite finishing in second last season, Eastern Michigan will be looking to take home the title for the third time after winning in 2019 and 2021. In 2019, EMU was crowned as the champion with an 899 (299-297-303), while the 2021 season saw EMU win by two strokes with an 899 (290-297-312).
Fans can track live scoring through GolfStat.com. Admission to the event is free.
Shirley Spork EMU Invitational - Oct. 2-3, 2023
Where: Ypsilanti, Mich. (Eagle Crest Golf Club)
Format: 36 holes on Monday, 18 holes on Tuesday (play-6/count-4 format)
Par/Yardage: 72/6,159
Field: Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, Eastern Michigan, Green Bay, Oakland, Ohio, Purdue Fort Wayne, and Western Michigan
Lineup: Anna Watson, Riley Kim, Natai Apichonlati, Sophia Wygonik, Alyssa DiMarcantonio, Paige Zolciak; Individual - Gabriella Tapp.
Previous Champion:
2017 - Marshall (302-294-300=896) | Julia Champion, Western Michigan (71-74-73=218)
2018 - Bowling Green (297-295=592) | Jessica Madry, Bowling Green (71-70=141)
2019 - Eastern Michigan (299-297-303=899) | Mikaela Schulz, Michigan (68-72-72=212)
2020 - No event due to COVID-19
2021 - Eastern Michigan (290-297-312=899) | Alissa Fish, Western Michigan (69-71-70=210)
2022 - Central Michigan (302-295-305=902) | Ashley, Goh, Central Michigan (69-72-77=218)
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – For the sixth time, the Eastern Michigan University women's golf program will host a tournament on the team's home course at Eagle Crest Golf Club, Oct 2-3. 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.
The tournament will utilize a play-6/count-4 format. Joining EMU on the par 72, 6,159-yard setup will be Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, Green Bay, Oakland, Ohio, Purdue Fort Wayne, and Western Michigan.
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. Among her honors are the 1994 Byron Nelson Award, the 1998 LPGA Ellen Griffin Rolex Award, membership in the inaugural class of the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals Division Hall of Fame in 2000 and a 2002 inductee in the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame. Spork was named one of the inductees into the 2019 Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) of America Hall of Fame. Spork passed away in April 2022 at the age of 94.
EMU's entire roster will be in action led by senior Anna Watson (Ashland, Ohio-Ashland), freshman Riley Kim (Aldie, Va./Lightridge), senior Natai Apichonlati (Bangkok, Thailand/The Regent's International School), senior Sophia Wygonik (Westland, Mich./Livonia Franklin), junior Alyssa DiMarcantonio (Maple, Ontario/Tommy Douglas Secondary School), and senior Paige Zolciak (Perrysburg, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy).
Playing as individuals will be freshman Gabriella Tapp (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon).
Despite finishing in second last season, Eastern Michigan will be looking to take home the title for the third time after winning in 2019 and 2021. In 2019, EMU was crowned as the champion with an 899 (299-297-303), while the 2021 season saw EMU win by two strokes with an 899 (290-297-312).
Fans can track live scoring through GolfStat.com. Admission to the event is free.
Shirley Spork EMU Invitational - Oct. 2-3, 2023
Where: Ypsilanti, Mich. (Eagle Crest Golf Club)
Format: 36 holes on Monday, 18 holes on Tuesday (play-6/count-4 format)
Par/Yardage: 72/6,159
Field: Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, Eastern Michigan, Green Bay, Oakland, Ohio, Purdue Fort Wayne, and Western Michigan
Lineup: Anna Watson, Riley Kim, Natai Apichonlati, Sophia Wygonik, Alyssa DiMarcantonio, Paige Zolciak; Individual - Gabriella Tapp.
Previous Champion:
2017 - Marshall (302-294-300=896) | Julia Champion, Western Michigan (71-74-73=218)
2018 - Bowling Green (297-295=592) | Jessica Madry, Bowling Green (71-70=141)
2019 - Eastern Michigan (299-297-303=899) | Mikaela Schulz, Michigan (68-72-72=212)
2020 - No event due to COVID-19
2021 - Eastern Michigan (290-297-312=899) | Alissa Fish, Western Michigan (69-71-70=210)
2022 - Central Michigan (302-295-305=902) | Ashley, Goh, Central Michigan (69-72-77=218)
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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