EDWARDSVILLE – When it comes to why Edwardsville senior Riley Lewis chose the University of Iowa to continue her golf career, her answer made it sound like a rather easy decision.
“The coaches, the team, the school, the facilities … it was everything,” Lewis said. “It feels like it’s going to be a perfect fit.”
Lewis signed her National Letter of Intent to join Iowa on Wednesday during the first day of the early signing period for high school student-athletes.
The ceremony took place at Sunset Hills Country Club with family and family gathered to celebrate.
A former member of the Edwardsville High School girls golf team and a state medalist, Lewis has been playing in national tournaments since midway through her junior season.
It was a move that put Lewis on the radar of many colleges, especially after she racked up the wins. Over the last two years, she has won five tournaments, including most recently at Golfweek International Junior Invitational at Eagle Landing Golf Club in Orange Park, Florida.
After coming into the picture on June 15 of Lewis’ sophomore year – the first day coaches could start talking to potential recruits – Iowa became the end game for a recruitment that included a handful of other Division I programs.
“Iowa has been on the top of my list of schools I wanted to look at for the past couple of years,” Lewis said. “As soon as I had my first conversation with the coaches, I knew that’s where I wanted to be.”
Iowa competes in the Big Ten. It finished 10th in the conference tournament last season.
On her first visit to the campus, Lewis was unable to meet the coaching staff but she still knew Iowa City was the right fit.
“I really liked them and knew that I would be really good friends with them. I was able to see the golf course, which is super hard. I like it though,” Lewis said.
Lewis was able to play in front of Iowa coach Megan Menzel this past summer when she won the Junior PGA Championship Qualifying Tournament at Crescent Farms Golf Club on June 7-8.
Lewis fired a two-day score of 2-over 144, including a 1-under 71 in the first round for a three-shot lead over Wentzville’s Mia Rallo, a state champion golfer for St. Joseph’s Academy. She closed out the victory the next day to lock up a spot in the 45th Girls Junior PGA Championship last July.
The most recent victory came last weekend in the 42-player Golfweek International Junior Invitational at Eagle Landing Golf Club
“It was a super fun tournament and a big one,” Lewis said. “It was shortened with rain washing out the first day. I knew it was going to take a low number to win that.”
With the tournament cut down to one round, Lewis fired a 37 on the front nine.
“I knew I was going to need more birdies,” Lewis said.
Lewis got those birdies – and then some.
Lewis sank five birdies on the first six holes of the back nine to fire a 31 and win the tournament with a career-low round of 4-uner 68. She won by two strokes.
Lewis, though, didn’t know she won until she was on the airplane to return home.
“It was super hectic. When I got done with my round, I was in the lead, so they took all of the pictures with the trophy just in case. We had to make a decision if I wanted to stay in case there was a playoff or go. We decided to go home because at the end of the day it’s still a really good score,” Lewis said.
When Lewis learned the news of her, most of the passengers on the airplane did as well.
“I may have disturbed some people from yelling. I was super excited,” Lewis said.
The win was likely the biggest of Lewis’ career.
Lewis credits to her time spent in American Junior Golf Association and Junior Professional Golf Association tournaments for her progression on the course.
“I’ve improved a lot over the last two years and it has really helped my game playing against big competition nationally. I’ve also been able to gain a lot more practice time,” Lewis said.
While playing for the Tigers, Lewis finished 15th at the Class 2A state tournament to become the program’s 11th state medalist and second in three seasons. She also won the Saints Shootout and O’Fallon Invitational and took second at the John Macek Invitational, Madison County Tournament and Southwestern Conference Tournament.
Lewis won the Madison County Tournament and O’Fallon Invitational and took second at the SWC Tournament, Gary Bair Tournament and Collinsville Regional as a freshman. She finished in 53rd at the state tournament.
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Lewis finds 'perfect fit' with Iowa - The Edwardsville Intelligencer
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