By Bruce Madej

Ann Arbor Sports Commission

AJ Newell was definitely excited to take the position as a University of Michigan assistant golf coach. But, still, even she was surprised at how great the first year would fare in Ann Arbor. First, the Wolverine women's golf team won their first Big Ten Championship in the program's history. Then, this week, the team is going to the NCAA Championships in Arizona, but maybe even more surprising, AJ will also find herself playing in a professional tournament for the first time in two years!

Newell will be one of the 154 golfers that will play for the $200,000 purse at the EPSON Tour's Ann Arbor's Road to the LPGA powered by the A2 Sports Commission at Travis Pointe Country Club (June 13-18).

"It was a wonderful surprise when I found out Ann Arbor would host an EPSON Tour event," said Newell. "I still have my card to play events on tour, but the timing and location of this tournament in Ann Arbor turned out perfect for me.

"I am really looking forward to the feeling of that nervous excitement when I get on the tee box," added Newell. "I do miss that feeling."

The former University of Tennessee golfing standout is no stranger to professional golf. She made nine starts on the LPGA Tour in 2018 and played 35 events on the Symetra Tour (2016-20). She made 13 cuts on the Symetra Tour, highlighted by a tie for fourth at the 2017 Fuccillo Kia Classic of New York and a seventh-place finish at the 2017 IOA Golf Classic. She also tied for 10th at the 2018 Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout.

A back injury and subsequent surgery forced her retirement in 2020, but her love for the game remained. Before arriving in Ann Arbor, Newell was a golf professional at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair Beach, Fla., working with her sister Anna (an All-American golfer at the University of Tennessee and a one-year Symetra Tour professional). Then, AJ received a call from one of her former U-T coaches Jan Dowling. Dowling, now the head coach at the University of Michigan, to join the Wolverines' staff.

"My issues with my back were actually the catalyst that led me into coaching," added Newell. "I always had back issues, and I couldn't practice and work on my game to get the quality of play I needed."

Newell grew up in an athletic family. And while her Mom, Robin, competed in powerlifting and her Dad, Jon, was also a student-athlete at U-T, competing in the shot and discus, but golf quickly became the sport of choice for both sisters.

"Our Dad (Jon) worked nights at the post office, and my Mom (Robin) worked days at the post office and they arranged their work schedule so they could be with my sister and me during the day," said Newell. "My parents gave up a lot to help us become what my sister and I are today."

The Newell sisters honed their craft from the public driving range to the Par 3 Countryway Golf Club outside of Tampa.

"Since my Mom worked days, my Dad would take me to the driving range in a stroller," said Newell. "Then, when I was old enough, he put a club in my hand. I would say that is where my love for the game started. "

The AJ Newell File

Born: April 9, 1993

Hometown: Tampa, Florida

High School: Home Schooled, 2011

College: University of Tennessee, 2015 (Communication; with Journalism minor)

AJ Newell’s First Year in Ann Arbor is even better than she hoped

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