EMU Standout Janae Leovao Shoots 66, Leads After First Round
THOMPSONVILLE – Janae Leovao, who with her twin sister Jasmine was part of the Eastern Michigan University golf team that made a stunning run to the final four of the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships, had a game above.
The 22-year-old California amateur who is sponsored by the tournament’s co-title sponsor GameAbove with a goal of turning professional, shot a 6-under 66 to lead through the first round of the 33rd Coca-Cola/GameAbove Michigan Women’s Open Tuesday at Crystal Mountain.
She closed her round with birdies on 17 and 18 of the Mountain Ridge Course and had a one-shot lead on two of the ANNIKA Women’s All-Pro Tour players, Chaves Milagros and Jasmine Lew, both California residents.
Two more of the 80 tour players in what is now an official event on the ANNIKA-WAPT schedule, were two shots back after 68s. They were Katie Lu of South Carolina, the former Michigan State University standout who is currently the leading money winner on the tour, and Texan Hannah Arnold.
Six golfers who shot 69 included Epson Tour player Sarah White, the Grand Rapids native who is also sponsored by GameAbove and won the 2022 Michigan Women’s Open.
The field of 135 golfers will play another 18 holes Wednesday before a cut to the low 50 scores and ties for the final round Thursday in the $60,000 championship.
Leovao, who rolled in a 20-foot putt for birdie on 17 and reached the par 5 No. 18 green in two for a tap-in birdie, said she came in without expectations.
“I was really burnt out after nationals and so I took two weeks off to be in Europe, just as a vacation,” she said. “I usually don’t take breaks at all. I usually practice every day, so I think maybe I needed a break.”
She is the older twin sister of Jasmine by one minute. She said she didn’t feel good about her swing during a practice round or Monday’s pro-am event.
“I was grateful that I could be here, and that GameAbove is sponsoring this event made it special to be here, and I guess it’s even more special to shoot a really good first round,” she said. “I felt really good about my putting today, which is weird because I haven’t been practicing it. I guess it just worked and I like the green speeds here, and it’s rolling pure, so I was able to read them pretty well.”
The twins are awaiting word from the NCAA on a fifth-year of eligibility at Eastern, but both plan to turn professional at some point.
“I’m not wishing I turned professional for this,” Janae said. “I think that would have changed my mentality for the first round. I think just being an amateur, you’re just taking everything in, and if I had made a sudden decision to turn pro already, that maybe would have changed how things went. I think the decisions we’ve made may have led to this happening.”
In the Legends Division tournament inside the tournament Gale Graham of Naples, Fla., a former LPGA player, shot 69. She had a one-shot lead on Michigan Golf Hall of Famer Suzy Green-Roebuck of Ann Arbor, another former LPGA player who has won the last two Legends titles.
ABOUT ANNIKA WAPT: The ANNIKA Women’s All Pro Tour (WAPT) was established in 2019 to provide a premier developmental opportunity for female golf professionals to hone their competitive skills while preparing for a life on the Epson and LPGA Tours. Through its partnership with the LPGA’s Epson Tour, the ANNIKA WAPT provides weekly opportunities for players to earn exemptions to select Epson Tour events. Learn more at www.wapt.golf.
ABOUT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN: Crystal Mountain is a premier four-season destination in Thompsonville, Michigan, about 30 miles southwest of Traverse City and Cherry Capital Airport. The 1500-acre resort offers two championship golf courses, a wide variety of lodging accommodations, dining, shopping, the award-winning Crystal Spa, and seasonal outdoor recreation, including skiing and Michigan’s only Alpine Slide. Learn more at www.crystalmountain.com.
ABOUT GAMEABOVE: GameAbove is a title sponsor for the first time. It is a growing strategic investor in golf. Its brand, GameAbove Golf, has investments in multiple golf brands, including McLaren Golf, PLATFORM Golf and CHIP’d Golf, and it manages several professional golfers.
ABOUT COCA-COLA: Coca-Cola has been a sponsor of the Michigan Women’s Open since its first year at Crystal Mountain. Learn more at Home Page | Coca-Cola US