As one of the seniors on the Eastern women’s golf team, Chloe Wong attended forum sessions to understand the importance of leadership within a team and the individual.

With Wong having one more spring schedule ahead of her, it will be her final time wearing the panther blue.

Wong enjoyed the forum and said she now has a greater understanding of leadership.

“We’ve been going over different characteristics of being leaders,” she said. “It’s helping all of us find out what type of leader we are and how we can be an effective leader with our teammates and the people around us.”

Experience is key in being a leader on the team, which Wong has been this fall, but going to the forum and talking with other athletes helped her learn more about leading.

“It’s (the forum) been amazing so far,” Wong said. “I’ve met a lot of other athletes and administrators from all over the nation and the atmosphere has been incredible. Everyone is super energetic and outgoing and it makes everything so much better. We’ve all discussed many factors of leadership and really got to think about our own leadership qualities.”

Being a leader goes a long way in any aspect, especially for this young golf team. Leading the team is a big factor for Wong and she hopes it can continue for her last season.

“I definitely want to lead by example,” she said. “I am their teammate and we’re all equals when it comes to being on the team, so I want to continue working hard and doing what I do best and just be someone they can always look up to. I am not going to tell them what they should and what they shouldn’t do because that’s not the most effective way to be a leader.

Being a leader by example, the main thing Wong said she wants to leave behind is the inspiration on the younger golfers to work hard every day.

“When I leave EIU, I want incoming freshman to really cherish these next four years and take advantage of every opportunity they get,” Wong said. “It may be hard to juggle being a student athlete and being involved in activities within athletics and campus but it is all worth it in the end. The main thing is that hard work really does payoff.”

Even though Wong didn’t lead the team in every statistical category over the fall, she did lead Alexandra Pickens and Madison Burgett the two other seniors in having 10-over-par and averaging a round-score of 81.33.

The Panthers wrapped up action back on Oct. 25 at the Evansville Braun Intercollegiate invitational, the spring schedule is right around the corner.

Vince Lovergine can be reached at 581-2812 or vplovergine@eiu.edu