Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Make Clean Sweep at Mich.
9/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
September 15, 2002
Hoosiers, Dennison, Bishop Take Out Field at Wolverine Invitational
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COMPLETE WOLVERINE INVITATIONAL RESULTS
RECORDS BROKEN AT 2002 WOLVERINE INVITATIONAL
CHAMPION PHOTOS AT 2002 WOLVERINE INVITATIONAL
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Records were shattered Sunday as the Indiana University women's golf team captured its first tournament championship in more than a year at the Michigan Invitational in Ann Arbor.
Indiana fired a final round 303 to win the Invitational with 913 (304-306-303), 15 strokes ahead of second place Michigan (309-310-309-928). The Hoosiers also swept the individual medalist honors as junior Karen Dennison won her first individual title of her career with a 219 (72-74-73). Dennison's classmate, Ambry Bishop, carded a final round 75 to finish eight strokes back of Dennison in second place.
The Hoosiers' team championship marked the first title since the 2001 Baylor/Iowa Shootout. Last season was the first time since 1987 that Indiana did not win at least one tournament, so needless to say the Hoosiers were determined and ready to get off to a good start.
"I'm really pleased with how we played this weekend," said Indiana coach Sam Carmichael. "Michigan's course is a very tough golf course and I thought we played pretty consistent throughout the tournament. Obviously this is a great way to start out our season."
This event held at the University of Michigan Golf Course has been kind to the Hoosiers in the past. In the four times that Indiana has competed at the Wolverine Invitational, the Hoosiers have won the event three times (1996, 1997, 2002) and placed second in 1983.
Indiana set new 18-, 36-, and 54-hole team records in the event. The Hoosiers' previous records in the event were 304, 611, and 920-all set in 1997. Dennison also broke the 18-, 36-, and 54-hole Indiana individual records for the event, as she bettered Erin Carney's 1997 performance.
The Madison, Ind., native is the third Hoosier to win the Wolverine Invitational. Dennison's 219 was also a Wolverine tournament record for the low 54-hole score. The previous record was set by Carney in 1997. In addition, Dennison's first round total of 72 tied the Invitational record for single round score.
"Everything started going my way this weekend, and my putts just started to fall," said Dennison. "My ball striking really improved, because Coach and I worked on letting my hands release at impact. I was hitting my irons inside three feet on some holes for easy birdies. It's a good start and we'll look to the Northern in two weeks to try to do it again."
Not only was it the highest finish and career 54-hole low in Dennison's career, but Bishop set her individual low-finish and tied her 54-hole best as well. Bishop carded a 227 this past season at the Shootout at the Legends, which was held on her home course in Franklin, Ind. Bishop's previous best finish was a third-place finish at the Baylor/Iowa Shootout in 2001.
"Our team played really good this weekend," Bishop said. "The course was tough and the greens were pretty good as well. In my three rounds over the weekend, I felt that they were my best ball-striking rounds I have had in collegiate competition. I just felt really well about my play this weekend."
Bishop notes that although she was pleased with her finish, she felt that she left some shots out on the golf course.
"In my first round Saturday, I had three three-putts," said Bishop. "I also had about seven shots inside 15-feet, but just couldn't get any putts to fall. I'm happy with my score though, but I did leave some shots out there."
Junior Danah Ford placed 10th in the event with a 234 (79-75-80), while senior Cara Stuckey finished two strokes back at 236 (75-83-78), tied for 11th place.
Rounding out the lineup for Indiana was senior Adrienne Graessle with a 22nd-place finish at 246 (82-83-81) and true freshman Molly Redfearn tied for 23rd after a much improved round of 77 Sunday, to finish at 247 (85-85-77).
Commenting on her first collegiate tournament ever, Redfearn noted that there were some nerves on the first tee.
"I didn't get off to a good start yesterday at all," said the Racine, Wis., native. "I hit my drive out of bounds and had to take a triple-bogey. "Coach really helped me with my short game before the final round, which I really believed helped me. I kept the ball in play today, hit greens, and putted pretty well.
Redfearn's first collegiate tournament also ended in a Hoosier victory, which obviously pleased her as well.
"As far as the team goes, we played really well this weekend and it was exciting that we won," she said. "After the first day, they were very positive with me and didn't let me get down. They really encouraged me and helped me out. I think I did better today because of them."
Although Carmichael and the team is pleased with the victory, the Hoosier coach notes there is still room for improvement.
"We had some solid rounds this weekend, but we need a lot of improvement," he said. "We'll need to work this week and get our short game ready, especially our putting. The Northern is a big tournament for us and we need to be ready for it."
Indiana will take a week off from competition and hit the links September 28-29 at the Northern Intercollegiate in Iowa City, Iowa. The tournament acts as a Big Ten Championship fall preview, and is run by the school that will serve as host of the conference championship in April.
Wolverine Invitational Tournament Records
• 54-hole team record score: 913 (920, Indiana, 1997)
• 54-hole individual record score: 219, Karen Dennison (224, Erin Carney, Indiana, 1997)
• 18-hole individual record score: 72, Karen Dennison (TIED)
Hoosier Records for Wolverine Invitational
• 18-hole team record score: 303 (304, 1997)
• 36-hole team record score: 610 (611, 1997)
• 54-hole team record score: 913 (920, 1997)
• 18-hole individual record score: 72, Karen Dennison (73, Erin Carney, 1997)
• 36-hole individual record score: 146, Karen Dennison (147, Erin Carney, 1997)
• 54-hole individual record score: 219, Karen Dennison (224, Erin Carney, 1997)
• Best finish: 1st (Tied, 1996, 1997)
Indiana Individual Records
Ambry Bishop
• 54-hole career-low: 227 (Tied, 2000 Shootout at the Legends)
• Best finish: 2nd (3rd, 2001 Baylor/Iowa Shootout)
Karen Dennison
• 54-hole career-low: 219 (222, 2001 Lady Northern Intercollegiate)
• Best finish: 1st (T-4th, 2001 Hatter Fall Classic)
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