Ford Wins Big Ten Championship Title

4/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf

April 25, 2004

Columbus, Ohio - Indiana senior Danah Ford entered the 2004 season without one individual collegiate title. She entered this weekend's Big Ten Championships with one, which came just a week ago. Now, the Indianapolis, Ind., native has her second title, as she captured medalist honors at the Big Ten Championships.

Steady rain attempted to wash out the final round of the 2004 Big Ten Championships Sunday, but instead yielded a historic end for one Hoosier. Ford dominated the individual competition, winning her first ever Big Ten title with a 72-hole Championship record of 1-under-par 287 (74-72-70-71). Her winning total eclipses the previous Big Ten Championships best of 288, which was set by Michigan State's Emily Bastel in 2000.

Ford also landed first team All-Big Ten honors, along with teammate and 2003 Big Ten co-champion Karen Dennison. This marks the first time Indiana has had back-to-back medalist honors at the conference championships since Erin Carney in 1998 and 1999.

"This is an honor," Ford said. "I think I am still in shock. Ohio State has a great course, and to win and set the new Championship record is really cool. Obviously, I am disappointed with the team finishing second, but honored to have won."

The Hoosiers (308-297-299-312) struggled on the day with a 312, to fall in the team standing to second with 1,216, but improved on their eighth-place finish from last year.

Indiana legendary coach Sam Carmichael, who was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the 10th time (eight women's and two men's), ended his 23rd and final Big Ten Championship as runner-up, which marks the 13th of the last 16 championships that the Hoosiers have placed either first or second. Indiana has finished in the top three an amazing 19 of the last 23 years.

Ford was the bright spot for the Hoosiers on the day, as she distanced herself from Ohio State's Allison Hanna by five shots and was the lone competitor in the field to finish under par. Late in the round, she was 3-under and eight shot ahead, but bogeyed No. 15 and 16 to drop back to 1-under.

Ford began to realized her lead and that she had the opportunity to win the tournament after she birdied No. 11 and 12.

Defending Big Ten co-champion Dennison finished tied for sixth with 302 (76-71-75-80), earning her first team All-Big Ten honors for the second-straight year.

Sophomore Molly Redfearn shot 314 (76-78-81-79) to finish tied for 21st, while senior Ambry Bishop carded a final-round 82 to shoot 317 for the championship (82-79-74-82) in a tie for 27th.

Senior Mary Lidester and junior Bethany Brunner rounded out Indiana's Sunday scoring. Lidester finished tied for 43rd at 325 (87-76-80-82), while Brunner shot an 87 to shoot 339 for the tournament (90-82-80-87) and end tied for 62nd.

Team Scores
1 Ohio State 1199 (301-299-306-293)
2 Indiana 1216 (308-297-299-312)
3 Michigan State 1227 (304-317-307-299)
4 Purdue 1231 (305-310-303-313)
T5 Michigan 1243 (312-305-308-318)
T5 Wisconsin 1243 (306-305-315-317)
7 Northwestern 1248 (313-305-316-314)
8 Iowa 1253 (311-312-313-317)
T9 Penn State 1266 (313-319-316-318)
T9 Illinois 1266 (312-313-318-323)
11 Minnesota 1288 (327-317-327-317)

Indiana Individual
1 Danah Ford 287 (74-72-70-71)
T6 Karen Dennison 302 (76-71-75-80)
T21 Molly Redfearn 314 (76-78-81-79)
T27 Ambry Bishop 317 (82-79-74-82)
T43 Mary Lidester 325 (87-76-80-82)
T62 Bethany Brunner 339 (90-82-80-87)