Whether it’s her academic career or golf game, Clarkston’s Minjoo Lee isn’t having much trouble orchestrating a stellar performance. Lee, 17, is a 4.0 student heading into her senior season year at Clarkston. Her final golf season will begin a little earlier than normal because of a switch by the MHSAA, which moved girls golf to the fall. The early start has Lee confident of a good season. With the Wolves this season, Lee earned her second consecutive All-Area nomination and she’s enjoying an excellent summer tournament season to lead into the school year.
Lee, who finished 16th in the state last June after qualifying for the state finals individually, kept right on into the summer. She won all seven events she played in with the Top 50 Juniors Tour. She returns to the site of the MHSAA state finals, Forest Akers in East Lansing, to play in the state championships of the Adams tour, Aug. 6-7. In that tour, Lee has placed in the top three twice, recording two second-place finishes.
To keep sharp, Lee puts in five hours each day at Indian Springs golf course or Shepherd’s Hollow, both in the Clarkston area.
Playing golf wasn’t second nature for Lee, but work ethic was. She needed to add an extracurricular activity to her regimen and tried golf because her aunt and uncle played. Lee admits the sport was challenging when she took it up preceding her freshman year.
‘To play at the level she’s at says a lot,? Clarkston coach Larry Sherrill said.
‘She decided to try golf (and) she works on it until she gets it right.?
As a freshman, Lee was named the No. 2 golfer on Clarkston’s roster.
‘It helped a lot because I played with girls with much more experience. It was a shock to play with such good players,? Lee said.
Lee quickly began submerging herself in golf, including her avid viewing of the Golf Network and golfing events on television.
‘As much as people say it’s boring, I find it exciting,? Lee said.
Lee’s success didn’t come to her overnight.
‘Minjoo works extremely hard on her game,? Sherrill said.
‘Golf is such a difficult game to get a level of proficiency. It’s easy to get frustrated, you have to have the drive to keep going at it.?
With her senior year on the horizon, Minjoo is looking at her college prospects. University of Michigan and Michigan State University could be in the cards.
‘It’s so competitive, but that’s what I’m hoping for,? Lee said.
Lee and Sherrill have been researching colleges on her behalf.
‘She’s a top-notch student, he siad.
‘It’s not just a golf school we’re looking for, we’re looking for a school which will give her a good education.?
Lee hopes to parlay her love of math into a career in engineering in college. The field is a bit more demanding than the golf course.
‘There’s no in between, it’s either right or wrong,? she said.