HARRIS — Kate Brody has excellent genes, especially when it comes to golf.
The 2023 Miss Golf Michigan’s mother is 1993 UPLGA champion Jenn Kangas, a 2020 inductee into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame and former LPGA member.
Her dad (Doug) is head pro at Flint Warwick Hills Golf Club. Her younger brother, Tyler, is also a golfer, playing at Grand Blanc High School this spring.
Brody, 18, is one of three exemptions who will play in the Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass June 23-25. Her mother will be her caddy for practice rounds here next week at Sweetgrass Golf Course.
Also getting exemptions are former Wisconsin golfer Tess Hackworthy and former Michigan State University golfer Leila Raines, a native of Russia.
“That will definitely help my focus,” Brody said of having her mom along during practice. “I’ll take my rounds super serious.”
The future University of Wisconsin golfer plans to focus on her short game. “Adjusting to the greens will be important,” she said after hearing the greens are slick and undulated, with typically difficult pin placements.”
Her mother doesn’t play competitively anymore and Brophy said “I never got to see her play when she was really good. I hear the stories she tells and I listen to her advice. I know what she is talking about.”
Players earning exemptions have never made the cut at the IRC. Brody is hoping that her improved game and Callaway Paradym clubs that have given her more length with her irons will be helpful. “I’ve gotten stronger,” Brody said, noting she has gained 15-20 yards on her irons. “I am a super good ball striker.”
Brody also played basketball and soccer and was a swimmer as a youngster. “I liked those sports better with the team aspect,” she said in a recent telephone interview. “I was better at it, but I’m super independent and I like the individual aspect of golf. I didn’t have to rely on anyone else, it was all up to me. I fell in love with it. I was over playing basketball and soccer. I loved competing.”
She gave up basketball after her freshman season. “No regrets doing that,” she admitted.
Having her parents so heavily involved in golf was a bonus. “It definitely helps having two parents in the business. They never forced me into anything,”
With her parents involved at Warwick Hills, she said “I was able to learn to love golf on my own and know what works for me. My ma was forced into golf. She was good at golf but it kind of pushed her away from it because she played it so much. Kids have to learn to live it on their own.
“I do love golf and I can see myself playing golf the rest of my life,” she added. “I don’t know what will happen after college, but I do hope to give it a try after college and see how that goes.”
Sbe plans to take business courses at Wisconsin. “I don’t want to do something I dread,” she said. “I want to be around golf, and my parents definitely see a lot of sides of the game.”
She is looking forward to playing in the tournament and seeing what she can learn. “It would be awesome to make the cut and be worth the exemption and worthy of the spot,” she said, adding she is also looking forward to college and playing golf for the Badgers. “I’m just really excited to have a team and work with girls just like me,” she said.
Earning Miss Golf was the realization of a long-time dream, but she said “I’m just Kate and want people to know me for the person I am and I don’t want them to know me as Miss Golf. I’ve worked super hard to get to this point,” she said, indicating she received more recruiting attention from the University of Michigan than she did from Michigan State University.
“I want to go off and do my own thing. I’m looking for a new adventure,” she said.
Brody, who also won the state prep tournament as a sophomore, shot a sizzling 10-under-par 62 at the Fortress in Frankenmuth during the state finals – PGA player Rich Beem had the previous course reord – and was under par for every tournament except for two outings (she was 1-over-par and 2-over-par in her other events). Her scoring average was 36.25 for nine holes and 69.5 for 18 holes. She hopes to join her mother as a Michigan Women’s Open champion.
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