Wake Forest Athletics
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Opportunity, Support, Competitive Drive Bring Liu Back to Wake Forest
5/14/2020 12:30:00 PM | Women's Golf, Les Johns
Siyun Liu will enroll in Wake Forest’s Business Analytics program as she is set to return for the 2020-21 season.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Details were flying fast at Wake Forest golfer Siyun Liu, creating a bit of an information overload.
As the No. 1 nationally ranked Demon Deacons were in the middle of a practice round for the Clover Cup in Mesa, Ariz., they were told to leave the course. Soon they found out that the tournament, and future ACC & NCAA Championships, were cancelled. The news effectively ended the season and Liu's collegiate career.
"My senior year is over," a distraught Liu told her coach Kim Lewellen.
Lewellen arranged for an impromptu celebration for Liu's senior campaign and for the accomplishments of the team in general, but it wasn't long before the NCAA announced that spring sport seniors would have an opportunity to return and get an extra year of eligibility.
Liu pounced on the chance, with one goal in mind — bringing home a national championship for Wake Forest Women's Golf.
"She really wanted to play for a national championship," Lewellen said. "You have players who want to be on the team, but they're still thinking about professional golf. She wants to compete for a national championship, and professional golf can wait. She keeps saying that. I know that's where her heart is, to compete for a national championship."
Despite tracking the progress of COVID-19 as it moved across the globe, Liu was still surprised to see such quick action from the NCAA to cancel the season.
"I was expecting postponement," she said. "As soon as I heard there were cases in Washington state, I figured something would happen to our tournament schedule. I didn't know the season would just be canceled so quickly, but it's a reasonable decision. It's a good thing they made the decision, but also granted us the opportunity for the extra year of eligibility.
"I was mostly shocked and devastated. It was a lot of information coming in at once — almost too much for me to process. I got really upset that it was all over. I was ready to win a national championship for the team. I feel like Wake is an underrated program, and I want to prove the point that we're a great choice for incoming college golfers."
Once given the opportunity to return, Liu started to analyze which option would be best for her — stay at Wake Forest or become a professional?
"I knew that I would most likely be staying, but I didn't want to rush any decisions," she said. "It's going to be a big change in plans, no matter what. I listed out the different scenarios whether I was going to stay or turn pro. What are the pros and cons?"
She checked to make sure it wasn't too late to get into the Master's program she wanted to pursue — Business Analytics, which is slated to begin for her in July.
"It turns out there wasn't much of a comparison," Liu said. "I wanted to get a Master's degree anyway, after playing professionally for a few years. Playing pro golf is a lifelong dream, but I can do it in a year. With college golf, this is the one I can win a championship with a team.
"I want to prove that Wake is a championship program."
The Deacs will enter the 2020-21 season as one of the national favorites, without a doubt. They finished the season No. 1 and will return their entire lineup, plus add some quality freshmen.
"We'll have her and Emilia (Migliaccio) as our seniors next year," Lewellen said. "Emilia is a role model for our team as well. To have her and Swing in those leadership positions — both of them are extremely nice young ladies who love Wake Forest and love golf. To have both of them lead this team is just a coach's dream. You couldn't ask for two better role models.
"We're grateful that private contributions to the Women's Golf Excellence Fund provided the scholarship support needed for Siyun's return. You may think this is an overstatement, but it's not, the Excellence Fund is a coach's lifesaver," Lewellen continued. "Five years ago we just wouldn't have been able to provide this, but thanks to the generosity of a few lead donors and many others who support our program, we're now able to provide the opportunity for Siyun to compete for a national title and to earn her Master's degree.
"Siyun wants to win some ACC and national championships," Lewellen said in closing. "I know she's going to work hard to motivate her teammates. Hopefully we'll fill up that trophy case next year."
The Deacs came close in 2019, finishing as the national runners-up after falling to Duke in the National Championship match. It's the drive to get back to that spot and finish that helped bring Liu back to Wake Forest for one more season — and the Deacs should have the talent to get there.
"Our freshmen were really good," Liu said. "One was an All-American and the other was honorable mention. We had really good team chemistry. Everyone was so supportive and we're close like a family. We have a healthy competition with each other about our game, and that helped us thrive last season.
"I heard Ryan Lavner from the Golf Channel say that you can't really find a weakness in the Wake Forest top-five, and I have to agree with him," Liu said in closing. "I think everyone is so good, and we have a chance to win every tournament we play."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
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