In a time when college sports is in a volatile state of flux, the teams with backing from independent donors and support from their alumni have the resources to keep up with a rapidly changing landscape.
For Eastern Michigan's golf programs, that support has come from GameAbove, which has committed nearly $20 million to Eagles golf over the last eight years.
The investment began with the construction of a new training facility, giving Eastern Michigan's golfers the ability to practice indoors during Michigan's unpredictable weather. The 13,000-square-foot GameAbove Performance Center opened in 2024 and features a practice range, chipping and putting areas and golf simulators.
Before the facility opened, the golf teams did not have a dedicated indoor facility for year-round practice.
Shortly after the facility opened, longtime Eagles head coach Bruce Cunningham retired after a 30-year tenure. The facility was later named in his honor, recognizing his contributions to the university and the men's golf program.
With Cunningham's retirement, Eastern Michigan turned to Andy Walker, who arrived after transforming VCU into a top-40 program in three seasons. In 2023-24, Walker led VCU to an Atlantic 10 championship, winning the conference tournament by 25 strokes.
Walker immediately began reshaping the Eagles' roster. During the 2024-25 season, he added six players, including five transfers and one freshman.
In his first season, Eastern Michigan climbed from No. 172 nationally to as high as No. 142. The Eagles also finished third at the MAC Championships, their highest conference finish since winning the tournament six years earlier.
Rory McDonald-O'Brien, a transfer from USC Aiken, emerged as one of the team's top individual performers. He finished as the individual runner-up at the 2025 MAC Tournament, the best individual finish by an Eastern Michigan golfer at the conference tournament since 2016.
Timothy Chan, who followed Walker from VCU, became an important part of the lineup and helped provide leadership as the Eagles adjusted to Walker's system.
Pietro Fenoglio, a transfer from TCU, added Power Five experience to the lineup and helped provide consistency as the Eagles competed in tournaments across the country.
With GameAbove's continued support, the Eagles continued to build their roster. In Walker's second season, he added four more transfers, including Charlie Box, who arrived at Eastern Michigan after winning the 2024-25 NJCAA National Championship.
Box quickly became the centerpiece of the Eagles' lineup. He earned 2025-26 MAC Golfer of the Year honors, was named to the All-MAC First Team and won four MAC Golfer of the Week awards.
He also tied the lowest single-round score in program history with a 63 at the West Bay Collegiate Invitational.
Box finished the season with a 71.6 stroke average, breaking Eastern Michigan's previous single-season scoring record of 71.8.
The Eagles' success was not dependent on one golfer. Box led the team through much of the regular season, while McDonald-O'Brien once again stepped up during the postseason.
For the second consecutive year, McDonald-O'Brien finished as the individual runner-up at the MAC Championships and led all Eastern Michigan golfers on the final leaderboard. The Eagles also finished third as a team.
In two seasons under Walker, Eastern Michigan climbed from No. 172 nationally to No. 98.
The transformation has coincided with increased resources, a new coaching staff and an influx of transfer talent. GameAbove's investment has given Eastern Michigan the resources to recruit, travel and build the infrastructure necessary to compete at a higher level.
Now entering its third season under Walker, the men's golf program is looking to continue that upward trajectory. Every tournament presents another opportunity to measure itself against the top programs in the MAC and across the country.
The Eagles have already made significant progress. The next challenge is turning that progress into consistent contention for MAC championships and NCAA tournament appearances.
