Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Ready For Shootout
10/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Oct. 7, 2005
Shootout At The Legends Notes
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana women's golf team will travel to Franklin, Ind. to compete at the Shootout at the Legends on Oct. 10-11. This marks the eighth consecutive year the Hoosiers have competed at the event. IU's best ever finish in the event was a second-place showing in 2003. That year, Indiana recorded its best 18-hole score (288), 36-hole score (586) and 54-hole score (879) in the tournament's history.
The Field
Joining the Hoosiers at the Shootout at the Legends are two other Big Ten teams in Illinois and Iowa. Other teams participating in the event are Ball State, Campbell, Cincinnati, Eastern Michigan, Georgetown, Illinois State, Kent State, Louisville, Missouri, Northern Illinois, Notre Dame, Ohio, Rutgers, St. John's, Southern Illinois and Toledo.
Career-Best Achievements
Several Hoosiers achieved new personal-bests at the 2005 Lady Northern Invitational on Sept. 24-25. Highlighting the group was sophomore Elaine Harris, who established new lows of 36 holes (150) and 54 holes (223). It bested her previous 36-hole mark of 152 and 54-hole mark of 234, both of which were set at the Central District Classic last season. Senior Katie Carlson also established career lows in 18 holes (75), set in Saturday's second round, 36 holes (157) and 54 holes (234).
Starting Off On The Right Foot
Playing in her first tournament as an Indiana golfer, senior transfer Shannon Johnson overcame a three-stroke deficit to earn co-medalist honors with a 7-over par 223 at the sixth-annual Notre Dame Invitational. After carding rounds of 72 and 76 during the opening 36 holes, Johnson fired a 75 on the final round to tie with Notre Dame's Noriko Nukazaki for top honors. She currently leads the Hoosiers in stroke average (74.78) and with three top-20 finishes. "I am really excited," Johnson said. "I thought I played decent and I was excited to finally be playing collegiate golf again. I think it really helps to play for a team with such good chemistry and for a coach who believes in your abilities as a player." After playing three years at the University of New Mexico, Johnson captured her first tournament medalist honor of her career, besting her previous career-high finish of a second-place tie at the 2004 Mountain West Conference Championships.
Another Debut
Freshman Tiffany Hockensmith will make her Hoosier debut at the Shootout at the Legends. She competed as an individual during the Lady Northern Invitational held in Bloomington, Ind., on Sept. 24-25. Throughout the event, Hockensmith played impressively, carding a 231 (81-73-77) to finish tied for 31st overall. In fact, her second-round 73 matched the lowest 18-hole output for an Indiana golfer this season.
Last Time Out...
This week's tournament marks the first since the Hoosiers hosted the Lady Northern Invitational on Sept. 24-25, 2005 at the Indiana University Golf Course. The Hoosiers finished in fifth overall with a 909 (307-297-305). The 12-team field battled through remnants of Hurricane Rita, competing in driving rains and gusty winds throughout the round, making course conditions difficult. The rain lasted throughout the morning, with the elements worsening as the round went on. With standing water on several of the greens in play, the tournament officials were forced to delay the tournament for approximately 25 minutes while greens were cleared of standing water. Leading the way for IU was sophomore Elaine Harris, who shattered her previous 54-hole personal best (234 set at the 2005 Central District Invitational) with a 223 (75-75-73) to finish tied for 12th overall. Senior Shannon Johnson was two strokes behind Harris with a 225 (79-72-74) to place in a tie for 17th. Freshman Amber Lindgren was the third Hoosier to place in the top 25, coming in a tie for 23rd, carding a 229 (73-75-81). Senior Katie Carlson tied for 38th overall with a 234 (82-75-77), while Kendal Hake (247) and Molly Redfearn (251) rounded out Indiana in 68th and 72nd, respectively. Three Hoosiers also competed as individuals in the tournament, led by freshman Tiffany Hockensmith's 231 (81-73-77) to tie for 31st overall. Junior Jenny Kim finished 55th with a 238 (78-80-80), while sophomore Gennifer Marrs rounded out the Hoosier individuals with a 262 (84-89-89).
Head Coach Clint Wallman's Thoughts
How you feel about the team as it heads into its fourth tournament this season:
"The mindset is really good. The girls are coming off their best tournament of the season (The Lady Northern) and they are excited to play a golf course they all know. It is nice to have a week in between two tournaments, because that gives us a chance to work on some things we need to work on."
How strong is the field:
"This is kind of a mixed field because there are some teams in this tournament we have not seen before. Some of the teams we have seen a few times."
Almost every student-athlete on the women's golf team has played this course. How big of an advantage is that:
"The five girls that are going is a huge advantage for us. Tiffany placed fifth in the Indiana State Open, which was played at that course. Both Tiffany and Amber played their high school championship there. Katie and Elaine both had a good tournament last year. That leaves Shannon, and she can play on any course. This gives us a home advantage without actually playing on our home course."
After competing well at the Lady Northern, how does it affect them heading into this tournament:
"Tiffany was playing in her first collegiate tournament and posted to sub-80 rounds, including a 77 on a very tough day on Sunday. So she has demonstrated the capability to shoot low numbers in any type of conditions. All of our golfers shot well last weekend and that is something which will give them confidence in future tournaments. I think this is a good golf course for us and a good lineup that matches the golf course."
Together Again
After a two-year stint as an assistant coach at New Mexico, Indiana head coach Clint Wallman is reunited with one of his former players. Senior transfer Shannon Johnson comes to Indiana from UNM, where she played under Wallman during her sophomore and junior seasons. Both seasons, Johnson earned all-conference accolades. She finished the 2004 campaign ranked No. 85 in the nation by Golf Week and No. 90 by Golfstat.
Playing In The Sand
Last season, Katie Carlson led the Hoosiers and ranked 43rd in the nation in sand saves (.408). That number and her consistent play throughout the season propelled her to receiving the team's most improved player in 2005. She also received the coaches award, which is given annually to the Hoosier who best exemplifies leadership, work ethic, passion and commitment.
Hoosiers Heating Up The Summer
Shannon Johnson, Elaine Harris, Tiffany Hockensmith and Amber Lindgren had excellent summers in 2005. Johnson, who began the summer by competing in the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship in Kansas City, where she reached the round of 16, claimed a third consecutive South Dakota Golf Association Women's Stroke Play championship at Minnehaha Country Club. In doing so, Johnson became just the seventh woman in state history to win at least three straight stroke play titles, and the first since Kris Tschetter of Sioux Falls accomplished the feat from 1983-86. Harris, a rising sophomore, collected a total of 11 birdies en route to winning the Pacific Women's Golf Association Championship at Eagle Ridge Golf Course in Gilroy, Calif., with a two-round total of 146 (77-69). Harris' victory marked the second year in a row that she has won the event. The title capped a summer of strong play by Harris on the California women's amateur circuit. The San Francisco, Calif., native also tied for eighth overall at the Northern California Golf Association's Inaugural Women's Championship, played at Poppy Hills GC, Pebble Beach, Calif., on July 12-13. In addition, she tied for ninth at the California Women's Championship on July 18-20 and reached the quarterfinals of the California Women's Golf Association Match Play Championship on May 16-20. Hockensmith claimed the 2005 Bloomington Herald Times City Women's Championship. The Indiana recruit and Bloomington South grad won four of the last six holes to claim a 4-and-2 victory. She also had a terrific showing at the 82nd Indiana Women's Golf Association State Amateur Championship, where she finished in a tie for fifth. "I think this shows the future is very bright for Hoosier golf," Indiana head coach Clint Wallman said. "Each of these girls had outstanding summers."
2005 Fall Season In Review
Lady Northern Invitational Sept. 24-25 • IU Golf Course • Bloomington, Ind.
The Indiana women's golf team climbed another spot in the final round of the 2005 Lady Northern Invitational held here on the par-72, 6,142-yard IU Golf Course, and finished in fifth overall with a 909 (307-297-305). The 12-team field battled through remnants of hurricane Rita, competing in driving rains and gusty winds throughout the round, making course conditions difficult. The rain lasted throughout the morning, with the elements worsening as the round went on. With standing water on several of the greens in play, the tournament officials were forced to delay the tournament for approximately 25 minutes while greens were cleared of standing water. Leading the way for IU was sophomore Elaine Harris who shattered her previous 54-hole personal best (234 set at the 2005 Central District Invitational) with a 223 (75-75-73) to finish tied for 12th overall. Senior Shannon Johnson was two strokes behind Harris with a 225 (79-72-74) to place in a tie for 17th. Freshman Amber Lindgren was the third Hoosier to place in the top 25, coming in a tie for 23rd, carding a 229 (73-75-81). Senior Katie Carlson tied for 38th overall with a 234 (82-75-77), while Kendal Hake (247) and Molly Redfearn (251) rounded out Indiana in 68th and 72nd, respectively. Three Hoosiers also competed as individuals in the tournament, led by freshman Tiffany Hockensmith's 231 (81-73-77) to tie for 31st overall. Junior Jenny Kim finished 55th with a 238 (78-80-80), while sophomore Gennifer Marrs rounded out the Hoosier individuals with a 262 (84-89-89).
Mary Fossum Invitational Sept. 17-18 • Forest Akers Golf Course • East Lansing, Mich.
The Indiana women's golf team closed play at the Mary Fossum Invitational with a season-best round of 313, and finished with a total of 953 (322-318-313) to place 15th overall. As a team, the Hoosiers improved every round at the tournament, while also recording two of the team's three lowest rounds of the fall campaign. Senior Shannon Johnson led the Hoosiers, as she tied for 13th overall with a 225 (74-74-77). It marked her second top-15 finish in two tournaments this fall. Johnson was one of a trio of Hoosiers to break 80 on the day. Sophomore Elaine Harris had a second consecutive round under 80 as she carded a season-low 78 to finish in 59th with a 240 (83-79-78). Freshman Amber Lindgren showed her confidence is rising with a career-low round of 77 to finish tied for 67th with a 242 (84-81-77). Senior Katie Carlson finished tied for 75th with a 251, while sophomore Kendal Hake rounded out the Hoosiers in 77th with a 252.
Notre Dame Invitational Sept. 10-11 • Warren Golf Course • Southbend, Ind.
Playing in her first tournament as an Indiana golfer, senior transfer Shannon Johnson overcame a three-stroke deficit to earn co-medalist honors with a 7-over par 223 at the sixth annual Notre Dame Invitational. After carding rounds of 72 and 76 during Saturday's opening 36 holes, Johnson fired a 75 on Sunday's final round to tie with Notre Dame's Noriko Nukazaki for top honors. After playing three years at the University of New Mexico, Johnson captured her first tournament medalist honor of her career, besting her previous career-high finish of t2nd at the 2004 Mountain West Conference Championships. As a team, the Hoosiers (321-332-321) tied Butler (323-322-329) for 11th in the 17-team field, collecting a 974. The Fighting Irish claimed the tournament title with a nine-stroke victory on the par 72, 6,003-yard Warren Golf Course. The Irish led wire-to-wire en route to their victory, carding a team score of 929 (311-306-312) to finish ahead of runner-up Toledo (938) and third-place Georgetown (945). Following Johnson, sophomore Elaine Harris was the next IU finisher, closing in a tie for 55th overall with a 247 (83-81-83). Freshman Amber Lindgren placed in 59th, followed closely by sophomore Kendal Hake who placed in a tie for 60th with a 251, and 253, respectively. Senior Katie Carlson rounded out the Hoosiers with a 273 to tie for 84th.
