Indiana University Athletics
IU Second After Day One of Big Ten Championships
4/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Columbus, Ohio - Seniors Danah Ford and Karen Dennison carried the Indiana women's golf team throughout day one of the Big Ten Championships at Ohio State's OSU Scarlet Course on Friday, April 23. Ford and Dennison stand in third and fourth place, respectively, after 36 holes.
The No. 32-ranked Indiana squad is currently in second place halfway through the 72-hole event. The Hoosiers fired an opening 605 (308-297). Indiana had the championships lowest round of the day, firing a second round 297. Host, Ohio State, tops the leader board, five strokes ahead of Indiana, at 600 (301-299). Wisconsin is six shots back in third, while Purdue and Michigan round out the top five at 615 and 617, respectively.
Ford, who is coming off winning her first career individual title, carded opening rounds of 74-72, and stands 2-over-par at 146, in possession of the third spot.
For Dennison, the Madison, Ind., looks to defend her share of the 2003 Big Ten Championship individual title. She opened this year's championship in similar fashion as last year. She sits in fourth place at 147 (76-71). Dennison's second round 71 was the only sub-par round of the tournament.
On the day, Dennison had a three-birdie, two-bogey performance, highlighted by an impressive start on the firstthree holes and back-to-back birdies at No. 9 and 10.
"My putting really gave me a lot of trouble in the first round," Dennison said. "I didn't have a problem with my accuracy. I missed just one fairway and hit 14 greens. The second round was better though. I hit a 25-footer for par on the first hole, birdied the second and barely missed a birdie on the third. That got me fired up."
Ohio State's Allison Hanna, who shared individual medalist honors in 2003 with Dennison, and Wisconsin's Malinda Johnson are day one's individual leaders at 1-over-par, 145.
Sophomore Molly Redfearn is tied for 16th at 154(76-78).
Playing in their final conference championships, senior Ambry Bishop rebounded with a 79 after a first-round 82, and sits tied for 38th at 161. Senior Mary Lidester sits tied for 46th at 163(87-76), while junior Bethany Brunner (90-82) is in 65th position.
The Hoosiers have won seven conference titles, just two back of Ohio State's league-leading nine championships. The Hoosiers have placed either first or second in 12 of the last 15 championships and have finished in the top three an amazing 18 of 21 years.
Indiana takes to the tee tomorrow for 18 holes beginning with tee-times at 8:00 a.m. CDT.
Indiana Individual
3 Danah Ford 146 (74-72)
4 Karen Dennison 147 (76-71)
T16 Molly Redfearn 154 (76-78)
T38 Ambry Bishop 161 (82-79)
T46 Mary Lidester 163 (87-76)
65 Bethany Brunner 172 (90-82)
