Augusta, GA

Borja, Yermish Guide Wolverines to Runner-up Finish at Valspar Augusta Invitational – University of Michigan Athletics

Published

2 years ago

March 12, 2024

Borja, Yermish Guide Wolverines to Runner-up Finish at Valspar Augusta Invitational – University of Michigan Athletics

» With final-day team rounds of 283 (-5) and 289 (+1), Michigan posted one of three sub-par 54-hole tournament totals (859, -5) to tie for runner-up honors at the Valspar Augusta Invitational played at the Forest Hills Golf Club.
» Hailey Borja and Sidney Yermish paced the Wolverines as they each tied for eighth with 214 (-2) totals. Borja posted her third at-or-below par tally in four events, while Yermish had his first sub-par total.
» Sydney Sung, who tied for 34th, set a new 54-hole career best at 219 — four shots better than her prior best.
» In one of U-M’s most challenging fields, the 17-team field featured six of the top-25 and 13 of the top-50 programs.

Site: Augusta, Ga.
Tournament: Valspar Augusta Invitational
Course: Forest Hills Golf Club (par 72, 6,261 yards)
U-M Team Standing: Tie-2nd of 17 Teams (286-283-289/859, -5)
Top U-M Individual: Hailey Borja (72-67-75) & Sidney Yermish (68-74-72), tie-8th (214, -2)
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sat., March 29-30 — at Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic (Athens, Ga.)

AUGUSTA, Ga. — With top-10 finishes from fifth-year senior Hailey Borja and freshman Sidney Yermish, the 49th-ranked University of Michigan women’s golf team posted one of three sub-par team 54-hole totals, with its season-low 859 (-5), to finish tied for second at the Valspar Augusta Invitational played at the Forest Hills Golf Club.

For a second straight weekend, the Wolverines had their opening round moved a day early (Friday, March 8) as incoming weather threatened tournament play on Saturday. Adding in one of U-M’s strongest challenges — with six of the top-25 and 13 of the top-50 in the 17-team field — the Maize and Blue was able to get off to strong start in early play, posting an opening 286 (-2) thanks to Yermish’s career-best-tying 68 (-4). The first-round total positioned the U-M tied for seventh, just two shots back of the top three.

With the field getting in anywhere from 9-12 holes in the second round, play was suspended due to darkness. As weather conditions continued to threaten, it was determined to move the completion of the second round and final 18 to Sunday.

Returning Sunday morning, Borja used two closing birdies as well as an eagle to post a career-low-tying 67 (-5) for the second straight event. With a 69 (-2) from senior Monet Chun and a 73 (+1) from sophomore Sydney Sung, the Wolverines tied their second lowest team total with a 283 (-5). With its 570 (-6) 36-hole total, U-M jumped four spots and third.

Heading straight into the final round, sophomore Lauren Sung paced the final 18 with her 71 (-1), while Yermish closed with an even 72 to give U-M a 289 (+1) to tie with fifth-ranked South Carolina for second with a season-low 859 (-5) total.

In a repeat of their last event, Michigan led by Borja and Yermish as they each tied for eighth after posting 214 (-2) event totals. After an opening 72 (E), Borja posted a career-low-tying 67 (-5) in the second. With her closing 75, she etched her 214 — her third at-or-below par 54-hole total in her last four events — and fourth top-10 finish this season.

Following a career-best-tying 68 (-4) in the first round, Yermish used tallies of 74 (+2) and 72 (E) for his first career sub-par 54-hole total at 214 as well as first career top-10 finish. He highlighted the opening round using an eight-iron to record a hole-in-one on No. 4 (par 3, 155 yard). With an even-par 216 total, Chun added her fourth top-20 finish as she tied for 17th.

After three straight rounds of 73 (+1), Sydney Sung recorded her career low with a 219 to finish tied for 34th. Her sister, Lauren, fired a 71 (-1) for the fourth time in a final round helping her round out U-M’s starting five as she tied for 43rd at 222.

After finishing one of its top fields of the season in Augusta, the Wolverines head straight back out for another stellar field at No. 28 Georgia’s Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic, Friday and Saturday (March 29-30) in Athens, Ga. The two-day, 54-hole event will be played on campus at the University of Georgia Golf Course.

Final Team Standings

 1. Ole Miss           276-283-297 = 856 (-8) 
 2. MICHIGAN           287-283-289 = 859 (-5) 
    South Carolina     283-283-293 = 859 
 4. Auburn             285-287-293 = 865 
 5. Florida State      291-293-283 = 867 
 6. Georgia            285-288-298 = 871 
 7. Clemson            286-291-297 = 874 
 8. Georgia Southern   286-294-296 = 876 
 9. Wake Forest        290-295-294 = 879 
10. Alabama            289-289-302 = 880 
11. Oklahoma State     287-291-304 = 882 
12. Augusta            287-297-301 = 885 
13. South Florida      299-293-300 = 892 
14. Furman             298-299-297 = 894 
15. Virginia Tech      298-298-300 = 896 
16. Louisville         296-303-303 = 902 
17. Coastal Carolina   299-307-315 = 921

Top Individuals

 1. Mirabel Ting, Florida State            68-74-67 = 209 (-7) 
 2. Hannah Darling, South Carolina         70-67-74 = 211 
    LoraLie Cowart, Georgia                69-67-75 = 211 
    Natacha Husted, Ole Miss               66-69-76 = 211 
 5. Caitlyn Macnab, Ole Miss               71-71-70 = 212 
 6. Sophie Linder, Ole Miss                66-72-75 = 213 
    Megan Schofill, Auburn                 68-74-71 = 213 
 8. HAILEY BORJA, U-M                      72-67-75 = 214 (-2) 
    SIDNEY YERMISH, U-M                    68-74-72 = 214 (-2) 
    Napabhach Boon-In, Augusta             69-72-73 = 214 
    Abby Newton, Georgia Southern          70-70-74 = 214 
    Mia Sandtorv Lussand, South Carolina   70-70-74 = 214 
    Louise Reau, Georgia Southern          68-72-74 = 214

Michigan Individuals

 T8. Hailey Borja     72-67-75 = 214 (-2) 
 T8. Sidney Yermish   68-74-72 = 214 (-2) 
T17. Monet Chun       74-69-73 = 216 (E) 
T34. Sydney Sung      73-73-73 = 219 
T43. Lauren Sung      74-77-71 = 222

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Boxing Club faces financial uncertainty after nonprofit funding cuts

Published

35 minutes ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Boxing Club faces financial uncertainty after nonprofit funding cuts

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Boxing Club is facing financial uncertainty after Richmond County’s 2026 budget left no room to fund nonprofit organizations.

The county’s decision removes one of the club’s main financial supporters, leaving the historic organization without a key source of funding.

The Augusta Boxing Club is one of the nation’s longest-running amateur boxing clubs and has served at-risk youth in the Augusta area.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta picks new planning and development director

Published

13 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Augusta picks new planning and development director

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta-Richmond County has selected a new planning and development director nearly a year after the previous director resigned.

Commissioners voted to hire Adleasia J. Cameron, who goes by Lisa, after an executive session Tuesday.

Cameron was one of two finalists for the position, along with Ryan A. Bland.

The position has been vacant since May 30, when Carla Delaney resigned as planning and development director.

“Augusta has been home to me for many years, from my time as a middle and high school student to earning my graduate degree. It has truly been a privilege to work here and contribute to the community’s growth, sustainability, and development,” Delaney wrote in her letter of resignation.

Cameron is expected to start within the next 30 days.

Her salary will be $125,000, with a moving allowance of up to $10,000 reimbursed based on receipts.

Other commission action

Commissioners also received an update that a veterans cemetery will break ground at the end of the year.

A motion passed authorizing the Marshal’s Office to purchase two vehicles at a cost of more than $115,000.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta family flees Middle East as U.S. launches Operation Epic Fury

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Augusta family flees Middle East as U.S. launches Operation Epic Fury

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta couple returned home from Israel and Egypt just as the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury Saturday.

This happened hours before the State Department issued an urgent warning urging Americans in 14 Middle Eastern countries to “depart now” due to “serious safety risks.”

Diego and Maile Sprague had been staying with a host family in Jerusalem, south of the West Bank. The host family provides self-defense training to women and children living in the West Bank.

“We moved to Jerusalem just south of the West Bank and stayed with a host family that provides self-defense training to women and children that live on the West Bank,” Maile Sprague said. “Sometimes those places aren’t the safest.”

Couple tours Egypt as operation launches

The Spragues left their host family Friday morning to tour Egypt. By Saturday morning, the U.S. and Israel had rolled out Operation Epic Fury.

The couple said their host family was forced to flee their home after two nearby Arab-developed areas were attacked.

“We got word he and his wife had to leave their home because where they live there are two Arab developed areas… and they were attacked, so he and his wife had to flee their home,” Diego Sprague said.

Maile Sprague said the host family is now sheltering with neighbors.

“They are staying in their bomb shelter because there has been constant red alerts, so they’re sharing their bomb shelter with their neighbors,” she said.

Tourism industry shuts down in Egypt

While in Egypt, the Spragues said they witnessed the country’s tourism industry — its largest — coming to a halt.

“Everything that has to do with the tourism industry was closing down. Tourists were trying to leave, and all the buses were being routed to the border for Israel to pick people up from,” Maile Sprague said.

The couple had planned to return to their host family in Israel but instead made the decision to return home to Augusta. They landed in Atlanta hours before the State Department issued its “depart now” warning Monday.

The Spragues said they are safe. Their host family remains in a bomb shelter.

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