Lyons senior Michele Siamis learns to love golfing

Michele Siamis still remembers attending the first preseason meeting with her parents as a new member of the Lyons girls golf program.

There, Lyons coach Brian Anderson told his future players and their parents: “We are not going to change your swing. We don’t want to make your pros mad at us.”

“My parents laughed,” Siamis said of her father Mark and mother Jean Marie. “My mom said, ‘She’s never had a pro.’ ”

The Western Springs resident was a sophomore and had earned the final spot on the JV team by shooting a 125 at tryouts at Willow Crest in Oak Brook. Siamis had never played competitive golf before and only tried out for the team when her longtime classmates, Macy Tabauchka and Melissa Marston, suggested she come out.

Michele Siamis never had a formal lesson. As a freshman, she played volleyball, basketball and softball. But when she stopped growing, she knew it would be harder to play volleyball. Siamis quit those team sports to devote time to golf. She also participates in track and field in the spring.

“It’s my passion. I golf a lot,” said the senior.

Marston has known Siamis going back to first grade since both girls attended Highlands Elementary and Middle schools.

“It has been a lot of fun,” Marston said. “I’m happy she tried out after her freshman year. She has come a long way.”

Siamis said during sophomore year, JV coach Gretchen Clay provided valuable help. Siamis hired a pro after that season and currently works with Louise Davis at the Cog Hill Learning Center in Lemont and regularly plays at Flagg Creek in Countryside.

“When I saw those varsity scores [as a sophomore], they were unbelievable. I wanted to be up there so badly,” Siamis said. “If I was going to play, I wanted to be good at those things.”

Siamis’ top achievement was a 79 at last year’s West Suburban meet at Village Greens of Woodridge. At this year’s conference meet, she carded a 94 for second-place Lyons (252) Oct. 1 at Village Greens.

Siamis hopes Lyons will play well enough in the postseason to return to the Class AA state meet at Hickory Point in Decatur. Lyons was set to open the postseason Wednesday at the Hinsdale South Regional. Qualifiers advance to the Lincoln-Way Sectional on Monday at The Sanctuary.

The Lions placed sixth at state last season as Siamis shot 85-85—170 to tie for 67th as the team’s No. 3 scorer.

“Mental toughness is really hard in this game,” Siamis said. “I’m a perfectionist. One time [during the conference meet] I was doing great on a par-3 and I pulled it left on the green. I was mad about that shot, but you have to get over it. That’s what I love about golf.”

Anderson, who plans on retiring as girls golf coach after the season, believes Siamis benefited this season from playing golf.

“Michele has learned so much about herself this year that someday, looking back on her life, I believe she will see this fall as a pivotal season of her development,” Anderson said.