<b>Hoosiers Look Ahead to 2003</b> - Indiana University Athletics

Hoosiers Look Ahead to 2003

8/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf

News Update

August 19, 2002

Hoosiers Looking Ahead to 2003 Campaign

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Over the past 21 years, Indiana head coach Sam Carmichael has seen many good teams come through Indiana University. Michele Redman and Sarah DeKraay led the Hoosiers during the 1980s, while Angela Buzminski, Erin Carney and Erika Wicoff returned the Hoosiers to championship contenders in the 1990s. But since the Hoosiers' last Big Ten Championship in 1998, Indiana hasn't had that one dominant team that posts consistently low numbers. This year's squad however, might just be that team, with many of the Hoosiers returning with considerably lower averages than they had in years prior.

Leading the way for IU is senior Cara Stuckey and last year's team scoring leader, junior Karen Dennison. Both Hoosiers dropped nearly two strokes off their scoring averages from the year before. Dennison, a native of Madison, Ind., led the Hoosiers last year with a 76.74 average and proved to be the true No. 1 player on the squad, firing 75 or below in 14 of her 33 rounds.

"Karen is a really good player that has proven to be our leader," remarked Carmichael. "She had the ability to score and the attitude to post a low number, which comes from her working hard everyday to get better. Karen can really show this year that she is an outstanding player."

Stuckey will look to improve on her tremendous season last year, as she will carry the torch in 2003, which was passed down by lone senior Tiffany Fisher. Although this season features two other seniors on the roster, Jeana Finlinson and Adrienne Graessle, it is Stuckey that has seen the majority of play out of the three. Perhaps the Terre Haute, Ind., native's best characteristic is her ability to lead by example. A quiet and reserved player, Stuckey snuck her way into one of the top spots on the team by posting the low score when it counted. Although she struggled in mid-season, Stuckey posted many rounds near par, which for a player that had never broken 77 in a tournament round in her first two years at IU, says a lot. It was her work ethic that pleased Carmichael the most last year.

"Cara is an excellent player and she had a number of low rounds for us last year," Carmichael said. "Her game has matured in the past two years as she has improved her short game and her course management. She is a very competitive player who wants to perform well."

Other Hoosiers that impressed Carmichael last year were juniors Danah Ford and Mary Lidester. Ford carded a 78.81 average in 31 rounds for the Hoosiers and recorded four top-20 finishes. Physically and fundamentally, Carmichael points out no errors in Ford's game, but notes that it is her mental approach that costs her strokes on the course.

"Danah Ford has a terrific golf swing, no doubt about it," he said. "She is a very competitive player who has the ability to be an outstanding golfer. She needs to gain more confidence in her ability though. A lot of times last year her head was just not in it, and we can't have that. She will be really tough to beat when she totally believes in herself."

Last year was the first action Lidester saw wearing the cream and crimson, after transferring from Ohio State after the 2000 season. The Lafayette, Ind., native never quite found her game with the Buckeyes, but was quick out of the gates and maintained consistent play for the majority of last season.

"Mary was a great addition to our team last year, because she works hard at her game and is dedicated to becoming the best she can be," Carmichael said. "She is a strong player with an outstanding golf swing. She's very competitive and has the ability to be a top college player."

This summer proved to be very beneficial to Ambry Bishop and Bethany Brunner. Bishop, a native of Franklin, Ind., who last year carded an 80.60 average in 25 rounds, won the Women's Golf Association of Metropolitan Indianapolis Championship and was runner-up by one stroke in the Indiana State Open with a 141 (72-69). She also carded a 10th place tie at the IWGA State Amateur with a 225 (78-73-74).

Brunner, who carded just three rounds last year in the Indiana Invitational, was a semifinalist in the WGAMI Championship, falling 2-up to the eventual winner, teammate Ambry Bishop. She finished tied for 10th with Bishop in the IWGA State Amateur with a 225 (72-75-78) and placed 29th in the Indiana State Open with a 156 (78-78).

For Carmichael, both Hoosier performances are key to the strength and depth of this year's team.

"Both girls are coming off really good competitive summers and I expect them each to have great seasons," he said. "Ambry is a very hard worker who really wants to play well, while Bethany is probably one of the most improved girls on our team. She really wants to be a part of the traveling squad this year, and I expect her to make some trips. She has a good golf swing and with continued improvement in her short game, she'll contribute to this team."

Another key performance this summer for the Hoosiers was Dennison winning the 4th Annual Indiana Match Play Championship, defeating Stuckey in the finals 3 & 1. Dennison also competed for Team USA in the 2002 World University Golf Championships in Taipei, Taiwan.

Graessle also turned heads at the IWGA State Amateur, finishing ninth with a 223 (70-77-76). The Seymour, Ind., native sat out the majority of last season with three herniated discs in her lower back and will look to finish her collegiate career on a high note. Along with Graessle, fellow senior Jeana Finlinson has also been plagued by injuries. After numerous knee surgeries, the Greenwood, Ind., native is healthy and just recorded a career low round of 75 over the summer at the Indiana State Open.

Carmichael also hopes that junior Shannon Carney will return with an improved short game.

"Shannon has an excellent golf swing and she has worked very hard in gaining more distance," he said. "She really needs to get better at putting and pitching. If she does, she could really push others for a spot in the lineup."

Indiana's newcomers include redshirt freshmen Katie Carlson and Megan Mulhaupt, transfer walk-on Alyse Tankanow and incoming freshman Molly Redfearn. A resident of Racine, Wis., the same hometown as DeKraay, Redfearn enters her college career with positive remarks from Carmichael.

"Molly had an excellent junior record in Wisconsin and we're looking forward to seeing her contend for a spot in the lineup right away," said Carmichael. "Both Katie and Alyse have made a lot of improvement in their games and Megan is a good player who carded a lot of good rounds in qualifying last year. Megan has the potential to be a good college golfer."

After a disappointing sixth-place finish last year at Big Tens, Carmichael and the Hoosiers are determined to regain the top spot in the conference with a strong showing this year. The Hoosiers will look to win their eighth Big Ten Championship, which would place them tied with Ohio State for the most in conference history.

"It is comforting to know that we have a lot of depth and players who have had the experience of competing in college golf," said Carmichael. "I hope they accept the challenge to continue to improve and compete. I would expect us to be more competitive in all the tournaments this season. We can have an excellent season, but it will take a lot of work and effort by the entire squad."