Indiana University Athletics
Dennison Preparing for Debut
6/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
VIENNA, Ohio - Struggling to find a level stance on the soggy 10th tee box, Indiana's Karen Dennison checked her grip once more before calmly taking her Ping driver back and ripping her Indiana-tagged Titleist straight down the fairway, marking the beginning her first LPGA experience.
The Hoosier senior-to-be teed off Tuesday in her official practice round for the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, which will be held this weekend, June 13-15, in Vienna, Ohio.
Although she would admit to being nervous on the opening hole, Dennison two-putted for par to begin her round, and would go on to play even-par golf over the next four holes. While players do not officially card a score in practice rounds, Dennison played her first nine holes 2-over-par, and ended the day with an estimated 75. The Hoosier first-team player and academic All-American wowed her playing partners and 20 followers towards the end of the round, nearly holing out on her 17th hole of the day.
After laying up on the par-five eighth, Dennison hit a wedge from 100 yards, landed it 10 feet past the pin on a severely sloped green, and nearly spun the ball back in the cup for an eagle.
Overall, Dennison was both impressed and surprised by the calmness of Tuesday's practice round.
"I was amazed by how laid back it was," she said. "I thought the round would have been more stressful and structured, but it really wasn't. I was hitting the ball pretty good, so my main focus was to try to get a feel for the greens."
Dennison was also able to get a good feel of professional golf, playing along side Suzy Whaley and six-time winner Donna Andrews.
Whaley has gained national exposure for her play since last September. After being the first woman to play in the PGA Club Professional Championship, the 35-year-old club pro from Avon, Conn., made more history by becoming the first woman to win a PGA sectional title. And with that title, Whaley initially earned the honor to become the first woman to play in an official PGA Tour event, when she tees it up at the 2003 Greater Hartford Open, July 21-27. However, Annika Sorenstam received a sponsor's exemption for the PGA Tour's Colonial three weeks ago, earning the honor of "first-ever."
For this week's tournament, Whaley joins Dennison as the two sponsor's exemptions in the field.
"It was really nice to play with Suzy," said an elated Dennison. "She is somewhat in the same position that I am in, so it was nice to have someone to relate with."
And for Whaley, who was collegiate teammates with Andrews at North Carolina, playing with Dennison reminded her of those college years.
In fact, Whaley was quick to point out in her press conference Wednesday that she didn't play with just another college golfer.
"I got to play with an All-American," Whaley said of Dennison. "Karen is such a great person and was fun to play with. She has a tremendous future ahead of her."
Andrews, Dennison's other playing partner, is one of the most notable figures on tour as she serves as the president of the LPGA Tour Executive Committee. She recorded four top-10 finishes in 2002, including a season-best fourth-place finish at the Aerus Electrolux USA Championship, where she posted her season-low 65 in the final round. She has one major championship to her name, having won the Nabisco Dinah Shore in 1994.
Dennison noted that she had only heard of Andrews by name before Tuesday's practice round, but recalled the 4.5 hour round with her and Whaley was enjoyable.
"The practice round was actually pretty nice and relaxed, but Suzy and Donna were a little unhappy with the pace of play in front of us," she said. "I was pretty used to the slow play, especially for a practice round. But there were some differences compared to playing in a collegiate event. Walking down the 18th fairway and hitting my approach shot into a green surrounded by grandstands and skyboxes was certainly a change."
Dennison also received a volunteer caddy for her practice round, due to her tournament looper Ken Allender, who is her hometown club professional, being unable to arrive at rain-soaked Squaw Creek Country Club until Thursday.
The 54-hole event begins with 18 holes on Friday. Dennison will tee off on No. 1 at 7:40 a.m. EST. She will be paired with Clarissa Childs and Cindy Rarrick. Rarrick has won five tournaments over her career, but has not captured a title since 1991. Childs was a LPGA rookie last year, after spending time on the SBC Futures Tour and as an assistant women's golf coach at South Carolina.
Stay tuned to IUHOOSIERS.com throughout the week and track one of the most successful women's golfers in school history, as she embarks on her first LPGA tournament.
NOTEBOOK: A total of four Hoosier All-Americans have been seen throughout the week at the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic. Dennison, Angela Buzminski (1991-94) and Michele Redman (1985-88) are slated to play in the tournament, while Erika Wicoff (1993-96) played in Monday's Pro-Am event. Redman, who is currently 25th on the money list this year, captured second place with teammate Janice Moodie in the Butler Wick Shootout on Tuesday. Playing in a five two-player team elimination scramble format over four holes, Redman and Moodie went the distance with Jackie Gallagher-Smith and Dorothy Delasin and were forced to a chip-off tiebreaker on the final hole out of a greenside bunker. Redman's sand shot landed four feet from the hole, however Delasin's blast landed just inside of Redman's for the win. As for Buzminski, the former Hoosier is remarkably the lone left-handed player on the LPGA Tour.
