Indiana University Athletics
Giant Eagle LPGA Update
6/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
VIENNA, Ohio - "Now on the tee...an All-American representing Indiana University...Karen Dennison."
At 8:50 a.m. EST, after a one hour weather delay, those words were announced, and Indiana senior-to-be Karen Dennison, officially began her LPGA experience at the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic in Vienna, Ohio Friday.
While visibly subdued, Dennison was nowhere near calm as her heart thumped at such an enormous rate, it nearly jumped right out of her body.
"That's true," said Dennison. "My hands were shaking so much I could barely put the ball on the tee. I was just glad to get the ball in the air and have it go forward in a somewhat decent direction."
Dennison's first of 75 strokes Friday was pulled into the left rough, but with the LPGA rules committee allowing players to "lift, clean, and place" their balls due to the saturated and muddy grounds of Squaw Creek Country Club, she was able to rest her ball in a good position.
But any golfer knows that you cannot hit a golf ball when every part of your body is shaking. Dennison bailed out right of the green and suffered a bogey on her first hole in a professional event.
On the par-five second, the Madison, Ind., native missed a three-footer for par and stepped to the third tee 2-over-par.
"I have been in a lot of situations before where I was two over after two holes," Dennison said. "I hadn't really calmed down yet, but I was able to string some pars together and get comfortable."
And as soon as she did though, Dennison stepped to the tricky par-four sixth - a hole that had concerned her throughout the week.
"I hooked my drive left into the rough where there was some standing water," she said. "My drop wouldn't have helped me, so I punched out and wound up hitting a wedge over the green."
A double-bogey six put the Hoosier All-American at 4-over-par thru six holes, and in last place for the tournament.
But just has a prized fighter finds strength in the late rounds, Dennison would not accept her front-nine 41 and stormed back on her second side. Birdies at holes 13 and 14 not only gave Dennison honors on the tee, but also a sign that she really did belong here amongst the pros. Dennison carded a 1-under-par 34 on the back side, giving her a 75 for the first round, which places her tied for 105th entering Saturday's round. Dennison however, is just two shots out of a tie for 58th position. The top 70 players and all ties will make the cut after Saturday's round.
Minnie Yao is leading the tournament with a 4-under-par 68, while eight golfers are tied for second at 69. Former Indiana All-American Michele Redman is tied for 10th with a score of 70. Top-ranked Annika Sorenstam is tied for 19th with a 71. Dennison did manage to better former Indiana All-American Angela Buzminski, as she struggled Saturday to an 8-over-par 80.
For more on Karen Dennison's first-ever LPGA event, continue to follow IUHOOSIERS.com and LPGA.com for continuous coverage.
