Hello Illini Nation!

I am excited to write to you in my first Chip Shots article! My name is Lexanne Halama, and I am a freshman this year. Starting college life has been an exciting experience for me. From diving into my biology major to playing at a variety of new courses, these past few weeks have been an amazing whirlwind of opportunities. These opportunities have not only been for myself but for the team too, as we have had many productive meetings and a successful team advance where we were able to establish a clear set of goals and values to reach and uphold this season. 

As I mentioned, I have been blessed with the chance to play at many new courses so far, one of them being my first college tournament at the University of Michigan Golf Course. This was a stimulating and challenging course, and it helped all of us gain valuable knowledge on how to best prepare for our next event so that we can continue improving.

The team committed to a strong finish at the Wolverine Invitational by rising three places up the leaderboard for a top 5 finish. The whole team contributed to a positive atmosphere during the event, allowing us to come into the final day with renewed energy. As a result, we adapted well to the challenging conditions that arose during the last nine holes. We are especially proud of Siyan Chen for her career-low finish in the tournament!

I am so grateful for the experience I gained from the Wolverine Invitational and that I was able to see some of my high school friends at the tournament too. I am excited for the next opportunity to learn and enjoy the game!

With this strong first event, we all look forward to a successful season!

Go Illini!

Lexanne Halama