MIDLAND, MICHIGAN | The pathway to becoming a professional athlete is as individual as a fingerprint. The journey is unique based on consistent steps toward the goal. For two Clemson University players participating in the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, their paths have led them to this stage at this moment. Savannah Grewal and Annabelle Pancake are at the gate of the LPGA Tour and can’t wait to enter, channeling the strength of a (Clemson) tiger.
Consistently dominating her golf track, Grewal is entering her senior year sixth in Clemson history in career stroke average (74.22), fourth in total rounds at par or better (22), and seventh in birdies (166). She has eight top-20 finishes over the last two collegiate years. Grewal has been second on the team in stroke average each of the last two years, and the second active Clemson player to compete in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in March 2022.
“I am going to LPGA qualifying school next summer,” said Grewal. “Then depending on how that goes, will be turning professional or taking my fifth year of eligibility at Clemson.”
Pancake earned a stroke average of 74.92 last year and has been third on the team in stroke average the past two years. She has 13 rounds at par or better among her 45 collegiate career rounds. Ranked as the number one amateur from the state of Indiana, and 45th in the nation by Rolex AJGA in 2020, she was the only freshman in the starting lineup for Clemson in 2020-21 and played all seven tournaments during the COVID-shortened season. Pancake has three top-four finishes at the statewide Indiana State Women’s Amateur.
“I am just starting the process of moving into a golfing career path and will be looking to Savannah,” said Pancake. “I am anxious to learn more on how the process works.”
Participating in an LPGA Tour event, especially this one with the unique format has both of these athletes very excited. “We are super-stoked to be here and honored to have this opportunity,” said Grewal. “You can’t play golf at a higher stage than the LPGA.”
Grewal earned a berth in the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational field by winning the Suzann Pettersen Qualifier presented by Frankenmuth Insurance in June, and selected her college teammate Pancake as her playing partner. Given the opportunity to be in the environment of elite professional women athletes is an honor for both of these Clemson teammates.
“I look up to Amy Olson not only as a good golfer, but also because she is a Christian. She is an incredible person,” said Pancake.
Grewal added, “My mom is Swedish, so I look up to Annika Sorenstam. She is one of the greatest women’s golfers if not the greatest women’s golfer in history.”
On the course in the first round, Team Maple Syrup had many birdie opportunities on both the front and back nine. They recorded one birdie and three bogeys to finish 2 over par and land in the middle of the leaderboard going into the second round of play.
Speaking about their first-round performance, Grewal said, “I think we did not start off the way we wanted to, but we bounced back. We hit some good drives and played the iron shots the way we like to hit them."
Pancake added, “I think we definitely gave ourselves some good opportunities, but we burned edges around the hole. I think both of our strengths are that we have similar shots and we have the same yardages for all of our clubs.”
Continuing this summer, both Grewal and Pancake have competitive golfing goals. “I am the first alternate for the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay,” said Grewal. “I am also deciding on the World Amateur Championship in Paris or playing in the Canadian Open qualifier.”
For Pancake, “I am going to the Women’s Western Amateur, and then I am going to the French Lick Charity Championship Epson Tour event in my home state of Indiana. And then I have the U.S. Women’s Amateur.”
Being at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational has challenged the rising stars to be directed towards improvement in their games. Grewal shared, “I would say fine tuning my short game and playing smart golf.”
Pancake agreed and said, “You can never have a good enough short game.”
Finally, when asked what has impressed both athletes about the LPGA and playing with the most elite players in the world; each were quick to share their thoughts. “The most surprising thing is that actually people are watching us,” Grewal said. The crowds supporting women’s golf, along with the atmosphere here in Michigan, and the grandstands were highlighted as their favorite feelings while participating in the event.
For Pancake, growing up with siblings and parents in the game of golf has additionally provided another avenue for success. Mom Libby played junior golf with Donna Wilkins, the LPGA’s Director of Player Services who competed professionally for 19 years.
Golfing is often generational, becoming a life-long connection in families. For these two players, their journey toward the LPGA family is becoming closer than they can even imagine.
#TeamUp
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