Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Finish 8th at CDI
2/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
PARRISH, Fla. - The 19th-ranked Indiana women's golf team placed 12th out of 15 teams at the Central District Invitational Tuesday at the River Wilderness Country Club in Parrish, Fla.
The Hoosiers turned in a better performance from their first two rounds Monday, carding a final round 308 to finish at 943 (318-317-308). IU placed five strokes back of Michigan State and Illinois, who finished tied for 10th at 938.
"We didn't play as well as we should have, but we hit the ball pretty good this weekend," said Carmichael. "Our short game and putting need some work. We haven't been able to practice at all outside, and that's just what we need to do."
Indiana junior Karen Dennison, the No. 6 ranked golfer in the nation according to Golfweek/Sagarin, finished her tournament with a final round 75, which placed her eighth individually at 9-over-par 225 (74-76-75).
Dennison, a native of Madison, Ind., began the day in fourth place, just one stroke back of the leaders. A win Tuesday would have marked the first time a Hoosier female golfer won three consecutive tournaments. Dennison captured the Shootout at the Legends and Mission Inn Classic titles to end her fall season last October.
"I really didn't hit the ball that great today," said Dennison. "I need to work on my wedge game a lot more and tune up my putting as well."
Dennison notes though that her short game is mainly just due to rust, being that the Hoosiers haven't been able to practice outside since fall.
"The wedges are the hardest thing to get into a rhythm with," she said. "You have to be outside and be able to see where each shot lands. You can't do that indoors. It's just a matter of time before we get back outside and start practicing."
Despite her eighth-place finish, Dennison has now defeated 351 of the 359 golfers she has faced this year in the Hoosiers' five events.
For Indiana, the Hoosiers 12th-place finish marks the highest so far in the 2002-03 campaign. IU recorded two wins, a second, and third-place finishes in the fall.
On the day, junior Danah Ford also carded a 3-over-par 75, while senior Cara Stuckey improved on her first two rounds, with a 76 on Tuesday. Inconsistency again played a factor for the Hoosiers, as junior Ambry Bishop (82) and Mary Lidester (85) both struggled with their play in the final round.
Ohio State blistered the field Tuesday with a 291 final round, which was 10 shots better than the previous tournament best this year, and won the CDI with a 909 (312-306-291). The Buckeyes' Kristen White recorded a 3-under-par 69 Tuesday to win medalist honors by one stroke over Baylor's Hanna Svenningsson. Baylor placed second at 915, while Texas A&M and Kansas State tied for third at 923.
Indiana will return to the links next Monday and Tuesday, March 3-4, at the Verizon "Mo"Morial in Houston, Texas.
INDIANA RESULTS
Indiana - 12th (318-317-308-943)
8 Karen Dennison 74-76-75-225
T-32 Danah Ford 80-81-75-236
T-47 Cara Stuckey 83-81-76-240
T-53 Ambry Bishop 81-79-82-242
T-73 Mary Lidester 89-87-85-261
