Indiana University Athletics
Dennison 1st - Saturday Recap
4/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
IOWA CITY, Iowa - Indiana junior Karen Dennison entered the 2003 season without one individual collegiate title. She entered this weekend's Big Ten Championships at Iowa with three. Now, the Madison, Ind., native has a three-stroke lead with 18 holes to play, and a chance to win the biggest tournament of her life.
Dennison entered the day with a one-stroke lead over Michigan's Laura Olin. That lead quickly vanished when Olin carded a front-nine 3-under-par 33, while Dennison only managed a 2-over-par 38. But while Olin struggled on her back nine, Dennison caught fire with four birdies, four pars, and a bogey on the back side for a 34 to complete her 1-under 72.
Currently, Dennison's 217 (70-75-72) leads Wisconsin's Malinda Johnson (76-72-72-220) by three shots. Ohio State's Allison Hanna (70-78-73) and Michigan's Olin (73-73-75) are tied for third at 221.
Dennison's 54-hole total of 217 is an Indiana best in the Hoosiers' storied Big Ten Championships history. Erika Wicoff held the old mark of 218, which she set in 1995.
Dennison will look to maintain her lead Sunday and take home Big Ten medalist honors. IU has not had an individual win the Big Ten Championships since Erin Carney won the 1999 title.
Another Hoosier that made a charge on Iowa's Finkbine Golf Course Saturday, was junior Ambry Bishop. The Franklin, Ind., native had a roller coaster of a 1-over 74, carding six bogeys and five birdies.
Junior Danah Ford is 24th at 234 (79-77-78), while Bishop moved up 11 positions to a tie for 28th at 236 (80-82-74). Senior Cara Stuckey is tied for 35th at 238 (82-78-78), while Mary Lidester (83-80-79) and Molly Redfearn (83-79-80) are tied for 45th at 242.
While the Hoosiers have won seven conference titles, just one back of Ohio State's league-leading eight championships, Indiana is 22 strokes back of the Buckeyes entering tomorrow's final 18 holes. The Hoosiers have placed either first or second in 12 of the last 14 championships and have finished in the top three an amazing 18 of 21 years.
Currently, the Hoosiers (311-309-302--922) are six strokes back of second-place Wisconsin's 916 (309-311-296). Michigan State and Illinois are both tied for fourth, two shots back of the Hoosiers at 924.
Indiana takes to the tee tomorrow for the final 18 holes beginning with tee-times at 8:00 a.m.
