Indiana University Athletics
Karen Dennison: Big Ten Champ
4/27/2003 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 past weekend's Big Ten Championships at Iowa with three. Now, the Madison, Ind., native has her fourth title, as she captured a share of medalist honors with Ohio State's Allison Hanna.
A native of Madison, Ind., Dennison carded a final-round 77 for a 2-over par 294 (70-75-72-77) to pace the Hoosiers and earn a share of the Big Ten Conference's top honor for 2003.
Dennison also landed first team All-Big Ten honors, the only Hoosier to earn All-Conference laurels this season. She is the first Hoosier to earn medalist honors at the conference championships since 1999 when Erin Carney took top honors.
Ranked No. 22 in the nation by Golfweek/Sagarin, Dennison finished a close runner-up in Big Ten Player of the Year voting this season.
"It was a great experience to have led the majority of the tournament," said Dennison. "It was definitely a learning experience on how to play when you are leading in a tournament like this. Next time I will do better."
Dennison also was disappointed with the Big Ten individual playoff system. She notes that a playoff system was set for a team tiebreaker, but there was nothing for a co-medalist scenario.
"Honestly, I'm happy with being a champion, but I would have really like to won or lost it in a playoff. It just would have made things more exciting."
Although she struggled through the final round, shooting a 4-over par 77 Sunday at Iowa's Finkbine Course, Dennison's 294 was the second lowest score amongst Indiana Big Ten champions in school history. Only Erika Wicoff's 292 in 1995 was batter.
As a team, Indiana fell to eighth place in the team standings with a final round 315 to shoot 1237 for the championship (311-309-302-315).
Danah Ford finished tied for 28th with 314 (79-77-78-80) while Ambry Bishop shot 316 to finish tied for 34th. Cara Stuckey carded a final-round 79 to shoot 317 for the championship (82-78-78-79). Freshman Molly Redfearn rounded our Sunday scoring with a 79 to shoot 321 for the tournament (83-79-80-79) and end tied for 47th. Mary Lidester capped things off for IU with 326 (83-80-79-84).
While Indiana uncharacteristically struggled in the conference tournament, Dennison maintained steady play throughout the 72-hole event. Dennison opened with a 3-under-par 70 and paced the field after day one with an Indiana Big Ten 36-hole best 145. Her 54-hole total of 217 is also an Indiana best in the Hoosiers' storied Big Ten Championships history. Erika Wicoff held the old mark of 218, which she set in 1995.
The 2003 All-America candidate is certainly increasing her stock for one of the nation's top honors. Dennison's four season victories ranks her tied with former Hoosier All-American Debbie Lee for fifth all-time in career individual titles. And the company in front of her...Erika Wicoff (15), Erin Carney (7), Sarah DeKraay (6), and LPGA Tour star Michele Redman (5) - all Hoosier All-Americans.
