University of North Texas Athletics
Akers Inks Pair of Signees Including January Add
11/10/2021 5:48:00 PM | Women's Golf
DENTON - UNT women's golf coach Michael Akers announced two additions to his program on Wednesday as the sixth-year coach added a UIL state champion and an Australian who will look to make an immediate impact when she arrives in January.
The Mean Green will add Australian golfer Sakura Sugiyama in January and Granbury product Mason Lewis in August 2022 after she looks to defend her Class 5A state championship. Lewis is also the sister of recent women's golf alum Madison Lewis.
"I am thrilled to sign Sakura and Mason today," UNT head coach Michael Akers said. "The most important trait I am looking for now is work ethic. For our program to be nationally competitive and continue to beat the very tough competition we play, we need players to put in the extra time. Most of our players are trying to play on the LPGA Tour, therefore they put in hours and hours of time. Lauren (Cox), Audrey (Tan) and Patty (Sinolungan) have been the role models for this attribute. Our two newcomers this year, Chandler (Browning) and Ellie (Roth), are both showing me they also want to work. Ultimately, the work pays off and good things happen."Â
Sugiyama will join the Mean Green for the spring season and has an extensive athletic background as she competed at a national level in Australia in both swimming and track and field/cross country before turning her focus to golf collegiately. In the pool, she was the Queensland state champion in the 100-meter butterfly and highlighted her running career by winning back-to-back cross country state championships.
On the course, Sugiyama won the 2021 South Australian Amateur stroke-play championship and took third in the match play event. She was also a Top-20 selection in the 2021 Australian Women's Order of Merit and was ranked No. 4 in the 2020 Australian Girls Order of Merit.
Lewis will come to UNT in August for the 2022-23 season after attempting to defend her UIL Class 5A individual state championship in the spring. Last year, she earned Texas Girls Coaches Association 5A-6A Girls Golf Athlete of the Year honors and was named to the first team on the all-state team after earning numerous honors earlier in her career, as well, such as Freshman of the Year in 2019. Lewis also qualified for the Junior World Championship, where she carded a top-50 finish in San Diego over the summer. This fall, she's won two high school events.
Coach Akers on Sakura Sugiyama...
"Sakura is the first Australian I have signed. She has worked with an incredible instructor named Nancy Harvey since she was a young girl. Nancy played on the LPGAÂ Tour for many years so we both have a common goal of helping Sakura get to the tour. I know Sakura is 100% committed to putting in the time. I love the fact Sakura has an athletic background and has been successful at other sports like swimming and track. She is now breaking par on the golf course and I expect her to really shine in our program."
Coach Akers on Mason Lewis...
"Mason was just destined to play for UNT. I have been watching her and her progress for a while. Last year, she really took her game to the next level. I was so excited for her to win the 5A Texas State Championship last spring. It is a very big deal to win state in Texas. The NCAA dead period was still in effect so I was unable to watch. Mason also puts in the time and is very athletic. She is the perfect fit for myself and this program. Mason comes from an incredible family, and I am excited to be able to coach her for four years."
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The Mean Green will add Australian golfer Sakura Sugiyama in January and Granbury product Mason Lewis in August 2022 after she looks to defend her Class 5A state championship. Lewis is also the sister of recent women's golf alum Madison Lewis.
"I am thrilled to sign Sakura and Mason today," UNT head coach Michael Akers said. "The most important trait I am looking for now is work ethic. For our program to be nationally competitive and continue to beat the very tough competition we play, we need players to put in the extra time. Most of our players are trying to play on the LPGA Tour, therefore they put in hours and hours of time. Lauren (Cox), Audrey (Tan) and Patty (Sinolungan) have been the role models for this attribute. Our two newcomers this year, Chandler (Browning) and Ellie (Roth), are both showing me they also want to work. Ultimately, the work pays off and good things happen."Â
Sugiyama will join the Mean Green for the spring season and has an extensive athletic background as she competed at a national level in Australia in both swimming and track and field/cross country before turning her focus to golf collegiately. In the pool, she was the Queensland state champion in the 100-meter butterfly and highlighted her running career by winning back-to-back cross country state championships.
On the course, Sugiyama won the 2021 South Australian Amateur stroke-play championship and took third in the match play event. She was also a Top-20 selection in the 2021 Australian Women's Order of Merit and was ranked No. 4 in the 2020 Australian Girls Order of Merit.
Lewis will come to UNT in August for the 2022-23 season after attempting to defend her UIL Class 5A individual state championship in the spring. Last year, she earned Texas Girls Coaches Association 5A-6A Girls Golf Athlete of the Year honors and was named to the first team on the all-state team after earning numerous honors earlier in her career, as well, such as Freshman of the Year in 2019. Lewis also qualified for the Junior World Championship, where she carded a top-50 finish in San Diego over the summer. This fall, she's won two high school events.
Coach Akers on Sakura Sugiyama...
"Sakura is the first Australian I have signed. She has worked with an incredible instructor named Nancy Harvey since she was a young girl. Nancy played on the LPGAÂ Tour for many years so we both have a common goal of helping Sakura get to the tour. I know Sakura is 100% committed to putting in the time. I love the fact Sakura has an athletic background and has been successful at other sports like swimming and track. She is now breaking par on the golf course and I expect her to really shine in our program."
Coach Akers on Mason Lewis...
"Mason was just destined to play for UNT. I have been watching her and her progress for a while. Last year, she really took her game to the next level. I was so excited for her to win the 5A Texas State Championship last spring. It is a very big deal to win state in Texas. The NCAA dead period was still in effect so I was unable to watch. Mason also puts in the time and is very athletic. She is the perfect fit for myself and this program. Mason comes from an incredible family, and I am excited to be able to coach her for four years."
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