UNA’s men’s golf team won the 11th Turtle Point Crown on Oct. 15 with an outstanding -25 839 score and the women’s team achieved 10th place out of 17 teams in the Lady Red Wolves Classic, Oct. 16-17 at Sage Meadows Country Club.
The Lions have hosted this tournament for the last three years. The men’s golf team was one of two teams that got under-par, -25, the other being Jacksonville State. The Lions blew it out of the park in the tournament, and the players also demonstrated their skill.
In an interview with sophomore Andrew Ferwon, he said, “Playing at Turtle Point was really fun for me. It’s one of my favorite courses I’ve played and favorite in the area. I had also been playing out there this semester heading into the tournament.” Ferwon had strong feelings about winning ‘Golfer of the Week’.
“Winning golfer of the week was really cool to me. My roommate Xing had won it I think two weeks prior after his win at the GMAC, so winning it shortly after him with a win of my own made it even more special,” he said.
Compared to Ferwon’s statistics from last year, his scores have improved in most events this season.
“I haven’t changed much in my practice routine since last year. The main adjustment I made was a putter change,” Ferwon said. “Which has given me a great deal of confidence in an area that has been relatively foreign to me for most of my golfing career.”
As Golfer of the Week, Ferwon scored 203 with a 13-under-par in strokes, which was the most on the team, and Xing Luo scored 208 with an 8-under-par..
In an interview with Luo, he said, “Everybody has different motivations, but I think our one common motivation is that we are all playing for each other. Let’s say we’re in a tough spot and you wanna do something stupid, you think of your teammate and think that ‘I’m not just playing for myself I’m playing for my teammates. This shot doesn’t just affect me, it affects 4 other guys and coach.’”
Luo commented on his personal goals, “I want to get myself into the top 50 by the end of the year. I want to work on the speed of my putting and improve my distance.”
The Lady Red Wolves Classic at the Sage Meadows Country Club Jonesboro, Ark. has shown how the Lady Lion’s skills have progressed, moving up on the leaderboard this year by achieving 10th place instead of 12th as seen in last year’s tournament.
This seems to have been freshman Sirichaya Chanpen’s best tournament so far. Chanpen went all out on the last day and ended up advancing eight spots due to her +1 73 score. That score comes from skillful play and her three birdies. A birdie is a term for a score of one-under-par.
In an interview with Chanpen, she stated, “Coming from Thailand, a country known for its heat and humidity, I’m used to playing in warm conditions. But this tournament was completely different. The weather was freezing, with temperatures around 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, combined with strong winds. I had never played in such cold conditions before, and my hands felt like they were freezing every time I gripped the club. It was a struggle to maintain focus and adapt to the unfamiliar environment.” Despite the unusual weather for Chanpen, she managed to lead in Jonesboro.
“My first round was tough. The cold and wind made every shot feel harder than usual, and I found myself frustrated with my performance. Despite my struggles, I reminded myself that this was just the beginning, and I had two more rounds to improve. With the support of [head coach Neil Self], who was incredibly understanding, I was determined to come back stronger.
“In the second and third rounds, I regained my confidence. I adapted to the cold, found my rhythm, and climbed up the leaderboard,” she continued. “By the end of the tournament, I finished in the top 20 out of 100 players, which felt like a personal victory. My coach was happy, and I felt proud of how I had overcome the difficult conditions.”
This tournament has taught her resilience, “It’s just the start of my college golf journey, and I’m excited to keep improving, working hard, and achieving even greater results in the future.”
Chanpen said, “We draw a lot of strength from each other as a team. Everyone is supportive, and seeing my teammates work hard pushes me to do the same. Our coach really pushes us to reach our potential and encourages us to stay focused on our goals. We love golf. We love the game and the challenge it brings, and that passion keeps us motivated to improve and succeed.”
“Regarding the mental game, there are some mistakes on the course that I still can’t overcome, such as hesitating to choose different shots. I want to become a more confident person.” Chanpen said. “I want to overcome myself and achieve the goals I have set, whether in golf or academics. I will use every experience I learn to improve myself everyday, and I want to be Freshman of the Year too.”
The Lions proceed to the FAU Golf Invitational in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. at the PGA National Champion course on Monday, Oct. 28 hosted by the Florida Atlantic. The Lady Lions have made it in the top ten teams this tournament and are participating again at the Judson tournament in Hattiesburg, Miss.
