OKEMOS - "My parents always had my brother and I just go to the range and hit golf balls and have fun with it. I was never any good I was actually kinda bad. My Dad was like, you can just stick to another sport or you can just keep playing. Eventually and I'm not sure what happened but I kept playing everyday... there is always a moment in golf when you catch on and that happened to me. I just kept practicing and got me to where I am now," said Elle Nichols.

It takes years and years of practice to become as efficient as a golfer as Elle Nichols has. Here at Forest Akers East is where she cut her teeth and still works in the stackshop to this day.

"I practice more than a lot of people know, I am always out at the golf course. I don't always get to hang out with friends or do stuff that I want. I think in the long run in my life though it will be worth it. It has been a lot of fun and a long career so far," she said.

Every golfer has that moment where they catch the bug, Elle's moment was before she even got to high school.

"In I believe 8th grade I played in summer tournaments and shot 92, 92 in two straight tournaments. I was just getting beat. I cam back in third round after practicing with my Dad for a couple weeks and shot 75. Right at that moment I knew I could stick with these girls that were playing in High School and in college and I knew I had a chance."

Throughout high school, Elle's hard work began to pay off. With everything coming full circle after her offer from Oakland University came through. "The Coach there, Russ Cunningham came to some of my summer tournaments and high school tournaments and watched and showed a lot of interest. Which I liked that he knew he wanted me as much as I wanted to be a part of the University of Oakland Golf team. And so, I went on visits there and really liked it so I committed."

Nichols has been a busy young woman this summer, between local tournaments and actually taking her first flight to an invitational tournament across the country. This Chieftan and Golden Grizzly has not had your typical summer for an incoming college freshman.

"I played in the Junior State Amateur which out here at this course at the west. That was My biggest win over the years that I have had. It was two day stroke play and then 4 more days of match play. It was really intense as I played with my friends too so it was kind of back and forth. I just got back from Washington, where I played with top golfers from all over the world and I learned a lot."

Despite all of the trophies and traveling, Elle is not doing this for the accolades. The solidarity of the sport is what helps drive her to get better and constantly push herself.

"It's relaxing. I don't know, it is a lot different than other sports where if you are getting beat no one can stop you. There is no defense in golf so if you practice as much as you want no one can stop you from becoming what you want to be"

Elle will be participating in the Michigan Women's Amateur at the U-M Golf Course from August 11th-15th before she heads off to begin her college career. Oakland's golf season opens up September 8th, at Illinois State in Normal, Illinois.