Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Open Season at the Fossum Invite
9/19/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
September 19, 2000
Indiana to Open Season with Mary Fossum Invitational
Match Data
The Hoosiers join 13 teams (Michigan State, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kansas State, Kent State, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio University, Oregon, and Wisconsin) next weekend to participate in the annual Mary Fossum Invitational hosted by Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. The meet will take place all day on Saturday and Sunday Sept. 23 and 24. All three rounds are shotgun and tee times begin at 8 a.m. daily.
www.athletics.indiana.edu
Indiana University unveiled a new look to its athletic website with the start of the 2000 season. Complete game results are made available on the web at www.athletics.indiana.edu following the event. In addition, the women’s golf page includes updated statistics, player and staff bios, historical records and honors and weekly features on current athletes.
Fossum Facts
The Fossum/Spartan Invitational has been an annual event since 1974. Indiana as a team has won the event four times, last season being the most recent. They also took home winning honors in 1984, 1993, and 1997. The Hoosiers had first place individual finishers in both ‘84 and ‘93. Last season, returning senior Natalie Tucker finished second with a score or 223.
Meet Head Coach Sam Carmichael
Sam Carmichael, seven-time Big Ten Women’s Coach of the Year, is now in his 21st season as Indiana’s women’s golf coach. Before Carmichael directed his attention soley to the women’s golf program in 1998, he spent nine years as IU’s men’s golf coach. During his time as the men’s coach, Carmichael won Coach of the Year honors twice (1991 and 1998) and the 1991 and the 1998 Big Ten title.
In 1981, Carmichael assumed the position of head coach for the IU women’s team, which he has led to seven Big Ten Championships in the last 13 years and 10 top-three finishes. During a 16-year span from 1984-99, Indiana is the only team in the Big Ten to place in the top three every year. Also, Indiana’s seven Big Ten titles are the most won by any school in the league.
Carmichael has been named Big Ten Women’s Coach of the year seven times and has received NCAA Regional Coach of the Year honors four times.
Carmichael Comments
"We have had great success here at Indiana both, in the Big Ten and at the national level. IU has so much to offer to a women’s golf player. From the facilitites, to the academics, to the
community, to one of the top campuses in the nation. There are few universities that have the tradition and comittment to excellent to the sport of women’s golf that Indiana University has.”
Invite Intuition
Coach Carmichael and his team are ready for the first tournament of the season.
“We are ready to play. Ever since September 1st we’ve been out here practicing and qualifying. The girls have not been to any competitions yet and they are excited to play.”
“We will face a good field of competition at the Fossum. There are several Big Ten teams and several teams returning some great golfers.”
Up to Par
Coach Carmichael will travel to East Lansing with a group of six Hoosiers. Freshmen Ambry Bishob and Karen Dennison, red-shirted freshman Danah Ford, junior Tiffany Fisher, and Natalie Tucker will compete in the team competition for Indiana. Traveling to Michigan State to compete as an individual is junior Adrienne Graessle.
Iron Women
A young group of women make up the golf team this year. Only three seniors are returning, one with junior eligibility status. They are joined by three red-shirted freshmen, three true freshmen, one sophomore, and one junior. The state of Indiana sports 11 of the 13 golfers on the team. The two “out-of-staters” are from LaCrosse, Wis. and Easton, Penn.
Tucker Attack
Senior Natalie Tucker returns for her second season on the Indiana women’s golf team. Tucker was a top Hoosier after transfering to Indiana from University of Memphis. In her first season with IU she earned All-Big Ten honors and was an honorable mention All-American. Tucker placed fifth at the Big Ten Championship and 28th at the NCAA Eastern Regionals. She was Indiana’s top finisher at the Fossum Invitational last year with a score of 223.
Smooth Swinging Snyder
The leader of the team, senior Inga Snyder is entering her final year as a Hoosier. Snyder maintained a 78.5 average in 25 rounds last season. She tied for third in the Lady Buckeye Invitational with a 229 for her best finish of the season. Snyder was also awarded academic All-Big Ten honors her junior year.
Coach Carmichael thoughts: “Inga is a consistent performer who has a wonderful golf swing. Her swing gives her the potential to shoot low numbers.”
Fishing for a Win
Junior Tiffany Fisher looks to help lead the team to victory this season. With 60 career rounds for IU, Fisher has played the most competitive rounds. Through her freshman and sophomore year, she has had 11 top-25 finishes. Fisher tied for third in the Fossum Invitational last year shooting a 234. She also tied for 26th in the Big Ten Championships her sophomore season with a 307. Off the course, she received academic All-Big Ten honors last year.
Carmichael on Fisher: “Hard worker, has a solid all-around game, a competitor.”
Ready for Action
After being red-shirted their freshmen seasons, Shannon Carney, Jenna Finlinson, and Danah Ford are ready to spark the Hoosiers into action.
Carney is a four-year letterwinner in golf, was a four-time conference champion and four-time first team All-Conference selection. She was also awarded conference Player of the Year twice. She has worked through last season to develop her long game and develop strength and distance.
Finlinson did not play competitive golf until she arrived at Indiana last year. She has been working hard and continuing to improve, hoping to help the Hoosiers.
A four-year letterwinner in golf and track, Ford was named to the All-State team her senior year of high school. She is also a four-time All-Conference and All-County selection. Indiana looks for Ford to step up and compete this year.
Once a Buckeye...
Now a Hoosier, sophomore Mary Lidester played 20 rounds for Ohio State last season. Her best finish was tied for 16th at the Indiana Invitational.
Carmichael on Ford: “Good player with experience and a good game, works hard and loves to compete.”
On the Green Graessle
Junior Adrienne Graessle is expected to step up for Indiana this year and be an impact player. After being red-shirted her freshman season, Graessle competed in five rounds last year posting an average of 86. Her best finish was at the Fossum Invitational where she tied for 52nd shooting 259.
Driving Forces
Three freshmen hope to help the Hoosiers to their eighth Big Ten title.
Karen Dennison, from Madison, Ind., is a four-time All-Conference and two-time conference champion. She finished second in the state tournament her senior year. She also lettered three years in basketball and two year in softball.
Ambry Bishop is looking to make an immediate impact on IU women’s golf. She is a four-year letterwinner and was named to the Indiana All-State golf team four years in a row. At Franklin High School in Franklin, Ind., Bishop was a three time team MVP and a two-time All-Conference. She finished eighth this summer in the State Amatuer and also in the 2000 Indiana PGA Women’s Open Championship.
Bethany Brunner joins the Hoosiers from Martinsville, Ind., where she led her golf team to four straight IHSAA state championships. She was named All-State four consecutive years and was regional champion in 1999.
