From the first moment she picked up a golf club, Ellis had her sights set on playing collegiate golf. That dream became official after the Alpena High School senior signed her letter of intent to join the women’s golf program at Olivet College.

“This day means everything. From the second I picked up a golf club, I knew I wanted to continue this for the rest of my life and as long I could,” Ellis said. “My goal from day one was college golf and here I am.”

Despite never picking up a club until her freshman year of high school, Ellis’ dream of continuing her golfing career beyond high school became a reality after many years of hard work and continued improvement. She initially joined Alpena’s girls golf team to help fill out the roster and because she got to wear skirts–a fashion choice, Ellis said, was one of her favorites during middle school.

Two trips to the state finals later along with two years of honors from the Big North Conference and Ellis has certainly come a long way.

News Photo by James Andersen Alpena High School senior Kennedy Ellis signs her letter of intent Thursday.

Of course, falling in love with the game of golf hasn’t hurt either.

“It’s been amazing. It’s been a rollercoaster,” Ellis said of her high school career. “A few ups-and-downs, (but) lots of ups and it’s been a real amazing blessing and treat to just be a part of it.”

Ellis plans to double major in environmental studies and chemistry before moving on to an advanced degree in turf grass science.

Ellis was fortunate enough to visit Olivet’s campus last February, just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The campus, Ellis admits, wasn’t on her radar, but it was the first school to reach out and she decided to visit.

It didn’t take long for her to decide Olivet, which sits roughly 35 miles southwest of East Lansing, was the place for her.

News Photo by James Andersen Alpena High senior Kennedy Ellise, right, is pictured with Wildcats' girls golf coach Tate Skiba.

“Olivet was never really on my radar, but just from talking to (my) coach and the other girls on the team, the day on campus, (I) just fell in love immediately,” Ellis said. “I remember calling all my coaches and other mentors, saying ‘Do I really have to wait? I really want to pick this one.'”

As an underclassman, Ellis watched fellow Wildcats Lizzy Heath and Courtney Nunneley reach the state finals and go on to compete at the collegiate level. Ellis took the leadership reigns as a junior and established herself as a hard worker.

She put in work over several summers, competing on the Traverse City Junior Golf Association’s Northern Michigan junior golf tour, playing in tournaments all over Michigan and working with a swing coach in Traverse City as well.

Ellis became a consistent top-10 finisher in tournaments and held her own against the best golfers in the Big North Conference.

She earned second team all-Big North honors as a junior and first team honors last season.

As a junior, she finished 23rd in the Division 2 state finals and finished 73rd in last fall’s one-day Division 2 state final.

Ellis is used to pushing herself competitively, which should help her at the next level. She knows there’s going to be some challenges along the way, but Ellis isn’t one to shy away from hard work.

“It’s going to be the best high school athletes now at the college level. I’m also looking forward to (the fact that) most of my closest friends from high school are all in the (Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association),” Ellis said. “It’ll be a lot of fun, but also (give me) that competitive edge that I’m looking for.”

Before heading off to college, Ellis will have a unique experience this spring. She’ll be serving as a part of the grounds crew as a volunteer for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur tournament in early April.

It will be a thrill for Ellis as a golfer, but it will also be exciting because it will give her hands-on experience she can use as she pursues her goals academically.

“I’m really excited to be a part of the grounds crew, not only because that’s what I want to do in life–going into turf grass management–but also because of the history behind the tournament,” Ellis said.