While Augusta’s fairway is drawing the eyes of golf fans everywhere for the Masters Tournament, the Emory University men’s and women’s golf teams are making their own mark this season, minus the crowds, the azaleas and, of course, the pimento cheese sandwiches. But do not let that fool you—Emory’s golfers are in the swing of things as they prepare to wrap up their regular season and head to the NCAA Division III Championships. The men’s team is currently sitting at No. 3 in the Golf Coaches Association of America rankings, while the women’s team was ranked No. 2 in the most recent Women’s Golf Coaches Association poll.
The men’s team started their season strong in the fall by capturing the 22nd University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship in program history from Sept. 9-10, 2024. Junior Brian Hanson was named UAA Tournament MVP and named to the All-Tournament team alongside senior Michael Burry and freshman Zach Pelzar. The Eagles followed that performance with a dominant first-place finish at the Flower City Preview in Penfield, N.Y., from Sept. 22-23, 2024, which saw the Eagles shoot a combined 833, the second-best three-round score in program history.
The Flower City Preview was held at the same location as the upcoming NCAA Championships, giving the top Division III teams a chance to familiarize themselves with the course and see how they fare against other top teams. Burry said the team’s strong performance boosted their confidence heading into the championships.
“The guys we took played great, and we just kind of blew other teams out of the water,” Burry said. “It’s giving us a ton of confidence going into the national championship that we’re a team that can play well there. I know it’s given me a lot of confidence that in a month, I’ll be able to perform.”
The team has continued to have success more recently, including a fourth-place finish at the Tiger Invitational in early March, a third-place finish at the Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational from March 21-23 and a runner-up performance at the Capitol City Classic in Montgomery, Ala. from April 7-8.
Sophomore Dustin Miller said that head coach John Sjoberg and assistant coach Sarah Butler, who joined the team in January, have helped his game by setting him up for success in practices.
“They did a good job facilitating the growth of my game,” Miller said. “Now I know what part of my game in particular I need to work on every time I go practice.”
In addition to their performance and preparation on the course, the team also has a great dynamic, which aids their success. Burry said that, as a senior, the team environment is what he will miss the most after graduating.
“This year especially, we have a really great group of guys,” Burry said. “It’s not gonna be so much all the performance-based things that we did, but driving to qualifying together, getting food after qualifying — those are the really special moments with this team that I feel like I’m gonna miss the most.”
The Eagles will compete at the Discover DeKalb Invitational in Conyers, Ga. from April 19-20, their last tournament before the NCAA Championships begin on May 20. Burry said that despite feeling nostalgic about his college career coming to a close, he is putting his effort into helping the team finish strong.
“I’m really hoping that we can do something special up there,” Burry said. “I’m gonna work my tail off to make sure that we put ourselves in the best position for that tournament.”
The Emory University women's golf team poses for a team photo.
The women’s team is also having a successful season, placing first in three events this season, including capturing the program’s third UAA title in the past four seasons, and the first under head coach Liz Fernandes, to start the season. Freshman Zimo Li earned UAA Tournament MVP and made the All-Tournament team with senior Ellen Dong and sophomore Carys Code.
The Eagles followed that performance with consecutive first-place finishes at the Montgomery Women’s Intercollegiate tournament from Sept. 22-23, 2024, and the Tartan Invitational tournament from Oct. 7-8, 2024.
Emory has also been gaining momentum throughout the spring. From March 21-23, the Eagles made their way to St. Simon Island, Ga., for the Jekyll Island Women’s Invitational, where they placed first out of 24 teams. The tournament came down to the final putt, which Dong said gave way to the team’s most exciting moment of the season.
“We were second and then after the final round, we won by one shot,” Dong said. “That’s really the highlight moment so far of the season because it was so close. After I saw my teammate finish her last putt, we knew that we won a tournament only by one, which is definitely happy and exciting.”
The team competed in the Max and Susan Stith Invitational tournament from March 31-April 1 in Glen Allen, Va., where they placed third. Additionally, the Eagles placed first in their April 13-14 tournament, the Deb Jackson Invitational.
Junior Katie Park said the team has benefited from the support of the coaching staff, consisting of Fernandes and assistant coach Heidi Mitchell. Park said they are dependable and assist with problems on and off the course.
“Our coaches are mentors,” Park said. “Someone you can always go to no matter your situation, whether it be golf or your life or school. I know they’re always there for me, always have my back.”
As the team prepares for the NCAA Championships beginning on May 13, Dong said the Eagles are aiming for a “great finish” to cap off their season. However, she said the team is going to keep their routine consistent and maintain the lighthearted environment they have had all season.
