For coaches trying to develop a women’s golf program, having a full dance card in May is a great sign of progress.
Last week, Eastern Michigan sophomore Savannah de Bock became the first player in program history to compete in the NCAA playoff game (although she didn't stand out from the NCAA area). Two days later, her other teams challenged the National Golf Invitational. Despite not having De Bock - who won the 50 amateur golf rankings worldwide this week after playing in the NCAA playoffs, he is not eligible for NGI this week - Eastern Michigan Eastern Conference Competition.
The Hawks left them at the top of the rankings with a 3-win 291 round at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes in Maricopa, Arizona. As things got harder on Saturday’s second round, Eastern Michigan lost ground against Santa Clara, now 22 and now 10 goals behind to enter the second round.
Oral Roberts ranked 25th and North Texas ranked fourth, two more shots behind.
Fraction: National Golf Invitational
"I think for us, we didn't have a leadership at any time after the day, so I think maybe it was a leading, it was a learning experience, it was something we had to learn, not just (the players), but the whole plan," Brewer said.
Brewer, who has coached at Georgia and USC, saw no drawbacks to getting these extra games at the end of the season or led to their weeks of preparation.
"Why are we doing this, it's two to three weeks of practicing with your team, with players, just having the opportunity to continue growing, building them and training them as they enter the NCAA area, they've already experienced their experiences on campuses that don't have finals or travel during the finals," Brewer said.
Especially for his team, the National Golf Invitational offers Brewers an opportunity to look down on the lineup. Junior Angelica Holman leads the team and the game after a 69-74 round on the South Dunes. However, Holman entered the transfer portal.
"You'll see her name on the portal, and it's a mutual thing because we have some digital issues here that work better," Brewer said. "I don't want to lose her, but at the same time, she showed why she's one of the better players in the country and might be interested in multiple schools. I'm happy for her because she's a great person."
Brewer also noted that Julianna Go is a sophomore and Brewer has been in leadership positions for the past month.
As he continues to develop the program’s mission in Eastern Michigan, Brewer will bring three freshmen in the fall, plus NAIA’s transfer students. In its first year in eastern Michigan, Brewer lined up a competitive, coast-to-coast schedule. He is an innovative coach who wants to build a cold intermediate activity plan for a strong and vigorous work, and a great opportunity is right in front of him.
Last May, Gameabove's chairman was Keith Stone, an alumnus of Eastern Michigan, who announced a $6.5 million commitment to the university's golf program. The gift brings Gameabove's overall commitment to the Hawks Golf to more than $14.5 million.
The playoff appearance shows that despite only one year, the winemakers are moving the plan in the right direction. But even after the assessment, there is more work to be done. When asked to reflect on his first year with the team, Brewer noted that in the learning curve, he will make some different schedule decisions in the coming seasons, namely, December, January and February bring cruel weather.
He is also a man who firmly believes in the guidance of the athletic department around him, setting up the breath required for an elite golf program that goes with Michigan State or Michigan State or Purdue, two prestigious and very successful cold weather golf schools.
"This activity really helped the event," Brewer said of NGI.
Brewer knows his team is by no means entering the final round on Sunday. The Birds in Eastern Michigan lead the field on 36 holes, and 10 losses aren't insurmountable for teams who know how to score.
"We have the firepower. Everyone on our team broke par this year," Brewer said. "It's a golf course and you can break par, and that's really - it's going to tell me a lot about them personally."