Indiana University Athletics
Dennison Accepts LPGA Invite
5/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Fresh off the most successful season of her collegiate career, Indiana junior Karen Dennison will now have an opportunity to test her ability at the professional ranks as well.
Dennison has accepted a sponsor's exemption to compete in the 2003 Giant Eagle LPGA Classic on June 9-15, at Squaw Creek Country Club in Vienna, Ohio.
"This is a nice way to end a good season for me," said an elated Dennison. "I'm excited to go out and get a feel for what it takes to play professionally. This is a great opportunity for me to gain experience in a professional atmosphere."
The Giant Eagle LPGA Classic is one of the top tournaments on the LPGA circuit, having attracted top tour stars yet again for the 2003 event. Defending champion Mi Hyun Kim will join two-time champions Dorothy Delasin and Michelle McGann, along with past winners Se Ri Pak and future hall of famer Beth Daniel.
The LPGA's top star, Annika Sorenstam, has verbally committed to playing in the event, which also excites Dennison.
"It really excites me that Annika is going to be there, but it's going to be a great field anyway," Dennison said. "Just looking down the list and seeing all these players has really encouraged me to practice hard and get my game ready. This is such a good opportunity to show them what I can do."
The Madison, Ind., native and 2003 All-Big Ten honoree, captured a share of this year's Big Ten Championship individual title, as well as winning three outright medalist honors throughout the year. She is the first Hoosier to win the conference championship since 1999 when Erin Carney took top honors. Shattering records both in the fall and spring, Dennison amazingly began the 2002-03 golf season without a collegiate title on her resume. In fact, her previous best finish was a fourth-place tie in 2002.
Throughout the season, Dennison recorded 10 top-10 finishes in 11 events. Her lone finish outside the top-10 was a 20th-place tie in the 108-participant field at the NCAA Central Regional two weeks ago.
Her stroke average of 73.94 this season was just .02 strokes shy of the school record, which was set by Erika Wicoff in 1995.
The 2003 first-team All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year runner-up is certainly increasing her stock as one of the nation's top golfers. Dennison's four season victories ranks her tied with former Hoosier All-American Debbie Lee for fifth all-time in school history for 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.
Redman, and former Hoosier All-American Angela Buzminski, are also slated to compete at the Classic.
"I was really excited to see both of their names on the list," Dennison said. "I have met both of them since I have been at IU, so it will be nice to have some familiar faces out there. I like the fact that I will have a couple of people in the field that I can trust and hang around to get a feel for how to handle things."
One thing Dennison is most certain to have difficulty with is familiarizing herself with the golf course. Dennison will arrive the Monday of the tournament, but due to the Pro-Am event being held over three days of the week, she'll have limited access to the course.
"I'm just going to have to get out there really early in the morning, or tee off late in the evening," Dennison said. "I'm not allowed on the course after 8 a.m. or before 6 p.m. Hopefully I'll be able to squeeze in nine holes."
Dennison will have an opportunity to get in a practice round on Tuesday along with the rest of the LPGA stars. While the Classic does not arrange set pairings for the practice round, it is likely that Dennison will play along with Redman.
And as an added bonus, Dennison will not have to lug around her Indiana golf bag, as she has to do in all of her collegiate events. Ken Allender, who served as the head golf professional at the former Madison Country Club, will caddy for Dennison throughout the 54-hole event.
Dennison should feel at ease with Allender, as he began giving her golf lessons when she was 12, and followed her around as a spectator at a few tournaments in 2003.
Be sure to follow Dennison throughout her first ever LPGA event, June 13-15, on IUHOOSIERS.com.
