Marian’s Kennedy named Miss Golf
BLOOMFIELD HILLS » When things are going well, time sure does fly by.
Birmingham Marian head golf coach Leon Braisted has seen his share of exciting moments on the golf course. He has coached seven state championship teams, including the past two with the Mustangs.
But get him talking about senior Shannon Kennedy and the stories that pop into his mind are those that took place off the course. And they really tell you all you need to know about the state’s best high school golfer.
“Back when she was in eighth grade, her St. Regis team was playing St. Hugo in a (CYO) basketball game, but Shannon showed up late for the game because she had come from a hockey game,” Braisted recalled. “I think she changed on her way over and when she got there and got into the game, she hit a couple of 3-pointers. She’s a phenomenal basketball player.”
The hockey game he was referring to was the 2017 Michigan Amateur Hockey Association Tier 1 state championship game. Her
Little Caesars AAA team won the title. She’s a pretty good hockey player as well.
But her passion is the game of golf.
Last week, she was awarded the Miss Golf award by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association. She’s the first Marian player to ever receive the award.
“It was a surprise,” Kennedy said. “When coach told me I was Miss Golf, I almost didn’t believe it. I was kind of in shock. My team and family were both there and it was just such an incredible feeling. I have experienced some low points in golf and at times even wanted to give up. ( Wednesday), it felt like all the hard days became worth it.”
Kennedy’s resume speaks for itself. She won seven tournaments this past fall, including Catholic League, Oakland County and regional titles. She capped things off with medalist honors at the
Division 3 state finals in East Lansing. Kennedy birdied her last hole ( No. 16) to force a playoff with Grand Rapids Christian’s Ryann Breslin. She tapped in for par to beat Breslin and help her team to a second straight state championship.
“I have won everything that I set out for as a freshman,” said Kennedy, who will play her college golf at Michigan State University. “I was talking to my aunt (Amy Carroll) and she asked me how I felt about no longer being a
high school golfer. I told her that I have done everything I wanted to do. There’s really nothing left for me. Winning Miss Golf gave me the feeling that it’s time to go. But I will hold onto the memories forever.”
Kennedy leaves high school as one of the most accomplished players in Michigan history. She is a 3- time state medalist (2017, 2019, 2020) and finished third her sophomore year — just two shots back of the leaders. She led her team to a pair of Division 3 state championships, a runner-up placing her freshman year and a sixth-place finish her sophomore year. She was also a three-time member of the state’s Super Team, which consists of the top eight players in all divisions, combined. No other Marian golfer has ever earned that honor.
Despite all the honors and awards, it’s her downto- earth personality that Braisted said makes her a special person.
“She has such a passion for the game, for the sport of golf, but outside of the game, I think she’s an even better person,” said Braisted, who boasted Kennedy and fellow seniors Lauren Sass and Sarah Kuredjian as the best group of captains he has had in his 21 years of coaching. “Yeah, she gets all the accolades, but at times it wasn’t about her. It was about the team.
She won an (individual) state title, but she always paid respect to her teammates.”
Braisted said Kennedy wrote him a letter after the season had ended.
“I’ve never gotten a letter from a player. I’ve gotten plenty of ‘ Thank yous,’ but this was a letter from her heart,” he said. “(After reading it), I was in tears. It was so appreciative. She said ‘In the good times, you were my biggest fan and in the bad times you were my number one fan. I could always count on you.’ “
This year’s Mustangs were very tight. Most of them have played together for a few years now. They set some lofty goals over the
past two years — goals they certainly met.
“I could not have asked for a better team or experience,” Kennedy said. “These girls will always be my family. I have learned that winning means nothing without people to share it with. We all pushed each other to be the best players and people we could be.
“I never realized how much I loved my team until I was standing on the first tee thinking about nothing other than playing for them. The individual titles are fun, but my team is far and away the reason I had such a great experience. I am so proud of them and I am going to miss them so much.”