Indiana University Athletics
Season In Review (5/19/05)
5/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana women's golf team demonstrated notable improvement during the 2004-05 campaign under new direction. Guiding the team in his first season was head coach Clint Wallman, who came to Indiana from the University of New Mexico. Wallman replaced the legendary Sam Carmichael, who retired last May after 23 years at the helm of the Hoosier program.
With the new adjustments, new leadership and new faces, Wallman had no concerns about the transition the players and coaching staff would encounter during the season. The improvement and dedication he witnessed from each player showed a sign of things to come in the future.
"Coming in as a first year head coach provides some unique challenges, whatever the sport is," Wallman said. "This group of young ladies embraced a new system and witnessed a tremendous amount of improvement. They have laid a strong foundation for success for years to come. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach this team."
Wallman's first year as a head coach proved to be rewarding, as large strides were made throughout the season and with the future of the program. Not only does the women's golf team return all but one of its seven players from 2004-05, but four of them are true freshmen and each were significant contributors throughout the year. In fact, at least three freshmen were in the starting lineup during each of the five tournaments in the spring season.
Leading the list of returnees for next season will be senior Molly Redfearn, who finished her third consecutive year of playing at least 25 rounds. Redfearn led IU in five of the 10 tournaments played throughout the season, including a 12th-place finish in the 2005 Big Ten Championship - her best career finish at the conference championship. She also had a career-best tournament in the fall season at the Mary Fossum Shootout (Sept. 18-19). While there, the Racine, Wis., native carded a 226 to tie for second overall, which wa
s the best finish in her three-year career. Throughout the year, she led the team in stroke average (80.21), top-20 finishes (2) and had the lowest 36-hole total (150) and 54-hole total (226).
Another IU golfer expected to make an impact in the future is sophomore Elaine Harris. The San Francisco, Calif., native showed the signs of hard work and dedication to her game with her improvement from fall to spring. In three fall events, true freshman Harris failed to finish above 60th place individually and only broke 80 on two occasions. However, she improved dramatically, leading Indiana in three of the five tournaments during the spring season. She had her best performance of the year at the Indiana Invitational, where she placed in a tie for 15th overall with a rain-shortened score of 158. She also led IU at the UNLV Spring Invitational and the Central District Invitational.
Also returning next season as a senior will be Katie Carlson. The 2004-05 campaign marked the first time in her three-year career at Indiana in which Carlson competed in more than one tournament. Though she had seen limited action in her tenure at IU, Carlson proved to be a true competitor. She had a career-best tournament at the Kent Youel Invitational on Oct. 26-27. In that tournament, Carlson established new career lows for a single round (78), a 36-hole total (159) and a 54-hole total (239).
"Molly, Katie and Elaine each stepped up throughout the course of the year and contributed," Wallman said. "Molly demonstrated that she could compete with the best of the Big Ten. Katie and Elaine gained confidence throughout the year and are poised to make a major impact in tournament play this fall. They all worked hard, provided leadership on and off the course and are a key to our future success. I expect all three to lead us this coming year."
Wallman and his squad are also excited about the newcomers for next year. The 2005 recruiting class is certainly highlighted by one of the best collegiate golfers in the nation transferring to Indiana. Shannon Johnson, an experienced and decorated golfer who played for three seasons at the University of New Mexico, will play her senior season for the Hoosiers, and is eligible to compete in the fall of 2005.
Johnson started in all 11 tournaments in 2003-04, receiving Mountain West All-Conference honors for a second consecutive year. She finished the campaign ranked No. 85 in the nation by Golf Week and No. 90 by Golfstat.
The Sioux Falls, S.D., native had a career-best finish at the 2004 Mountain West Championship, placing
second overall with a personal-best three-under par 213. She also made her debut at the NCAA Championship, carding a 20-over par 308 to tie for 93rd. She finished the year with an average of 75.38 per round and five top-20 finishes.
Joining Johnson will be three freshmen who had impressive high school careers. Tara Boone (Huntington, Ind./Huntington North HS), Tiffany Hockensmith (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington South HS) and Amber Lindgren (Kokomo, Ind./Western HS) have all signed a National Letter of Intent to play golf for Indiana beginning in the 2005-06 campaign.
Boone will come to Indiana from Huntington North High School where she earned all-state honors in 2003 and 2004, as well as all-conference honors in each of her four seasons. During her senior season, Boone won three tournaments for the Vikings, including the Indiana Sectionals, marking the third consecutive year she claimed sectional medalist honors. Boone was named team MVP and played at the No. 1 spot all four years. Throughout high school, Boone claimed 13 event titles.
Hockensmith is a product of Bloomington South High School, where she was tabbed the 2003 Mountain Dew Player of the Year and was one of eight females selected to the Tri-State Challenge team in 2003 and 2004. The talented performer from Bloomington, Ind., was a contender in many tournaments during her high school career, highlighted by capturing the 2003 Indiana Girls State Juniors championship, as well as winning the Plantations Junior Golf Tournament in 2004. Additionally, Hockensmith was a sectional medalist in 2003 and was named 2003 team MVP.
Lindgren will also remain in the state of Indiana, where she was a four-time letterwinner at Western High School. In 2004, Lindgren played her way to the individual championship of the Indiana Girls State Tournament, where she also finished runner-up in 2003, on her way to receiving the Indiana Golf Tour Player of the Year honors. In addition, the Huntington, Ind., product was named as a Future Collegians World Tour (FCWT) second team All-American. She averaged a 73.9 as a junior and 74.4 as a senior, including a career-low round of 67 in the final qualifying round of the Girls State Juniors at the Players Club in Muncie, Ind. She was also a four-year All-Conference, All-Sectional, All-Regional and All-State performer, as well as a member of the National Honor Society.
"Our incoming recruiting class is very exciting," Wallman explained. "Having an experienced and successful collegiate player like Shannon come in and play immediately is really big for us. Shannon will provide us with solid scoring as well as a tremendous amount of experience. Along with Molly, Katie and Elaine, Shannon will be able to help our incoming freshman with the rigors of college golf.
"I am equally excited about our freshman, Amber, Tiffany and Tara. Anytime you can add the past two Indiana State Junior Girls Champions to the roster, you have to be excited. Amber already has the game to compete with the best of the Big Ten and Tiffany works as hard as anyone I have seen. Tara is equally as talented as Amber and Tiffany. Earning All-State accolades two years in a row as well as the All-Conference team all four years of high school is a big accomplishment. I am expecting great things from these three freshmen. The future is very bright for Indiana Golf."
With the nucleus returning next season for the IU women's golf team, as well as welcoming four outstanding golfers, Wallman can't help but to smile when talking about the future of his program. He knows that it is just a matter of time before IU is among the nation's best.
With the new adjustments, new leadership and new faces, Wallman had no concerns about the transition the players and coaching staff would encounter during the season. The improvement and dedication he witnessed from each player showed a sign of things to come in the future.
"Coming in as a first year head coach provides some unique challenges, whatever the sport is," Wallman said. "This group of young ladies embraced a new system and witnessed a tremendous amount of improvement. They have laid a strong foundation for success for years to come. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach this team."
Wallman's first year as a head coach proved to be rewarding, as large strides were made throughout the season and with the future of the program. Not only does the women's golf team return all but one of its seven players from 2004-05, but four of them are true freshmen and each were significant contributors throughout the year. In fact, at least three freshmen were in the starting lineup during each of the five tournaments in the spring season.
Leading the list of returnees for next season will be senior Molly Redfearn, who finished her third consecutive year of playing at least 25 rounds. Redfearn led IU in five of the 10 tournaments played throughout the season, including a 12th-place finish in the 2005 Big Ten Championship - her best career finish at the conference championship. She also had a career-best tournament in the fall season at the Mary Fossum Shootout (Sept. 18-19). While there, the Racine, Wis., native carded a 226 to tie for second overall, which wa
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Also returning next season as a senior will be Katie Carlson. The 2004-05 campaign marked the first time in her three-year career at Indiana in which Carlson competed in more than one tournament. Though she had seen limited action in her tenure at IU, Carlson proved to be a true competitor. She had a career-best tournament at the Kent Youel Invitational on Oct. 26-27. In that tournament, Carlson established new career lows for a single round (78), a 36-hole total (159) and a 54-hole total (239).
"Molly, Katie and Elaine each stepped up throughout the course of the year and contributed," Wallman said. "Molly demonstrated that she could compete with the best of the Big Ten. Katie and Elaine gained confidence throughout the year and are poised to make a major impact in tournament play this fall. They all worked hard, provided leadership on and off the course and are a key to our future success. I expect all three to lead us this coming year."
Wallman and his squad are also excited about the newcomers for next year. The 2005 recruiting class is certainly highlighted by one of the best collegiate golfers in the nation transferring to Indiana. Shannon Johnson, an experienced and decorated golfer who played for three seasons at the University of New Mexico, will play her senior season for the Hoosiers, and is eligible to compete in the fall of 2005.
Johnson started in all 11 tournaments in 2003-04, receiving Mountain West All-Conference honors for a second consecutive year. She finished the campaign ranked No. 85 in the nation by Golf Week and No. 90 by Golfstat.
The Sioux Falls, S.D., native had a career-best finish at the 2004 Mountain West Championship, placing
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Joining Johnson will be three freshmen who had impressive high school careers. Tara Boone (Huntington, Ind./Huntington North HS), Tiffany Hockensmith (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington South HS) and Amber Lindgren (Kokomo, Ind./Western HS) have all signed a National Letter of Intent to play golf for Indiana beginning in the 2005-06 campaign.
Boone will come to Indiana from Huntington North High School where she earned all-state honors in 2003 and 2004, as well as all-conference honors in each of her four seasons. During her senior season, Boone won three tournaments for the Vikings, including the Indiana Sectionals, marking the third consecutive year she claimed sectional medalist honors. Boone was named team MVP and played at the No. 1 spot all four years. Throughout high school, Boone claimed 13 event titles.
Hockensmith is a product of Bloomington South High School, where she was tabbed the 2003 Mountain Dew Player of the Year and was one of eight females selected to the Tri-State Challenge team in 2003 and 2004. The talented performer from Bloomington, Ind., was a contender in many tournaments during her high school career, highlighted by capturing the 2003 Indiana Girls State Juniors championship, as well as winning the Plantations Junior Golf Tournament in 2004. Additionally, Hockensmith was a sectional medalist in 2003 and was named 2003 team MVP.
Lindgren will also remain in the state of Indiana, where she was a four-time letterwinner at Western High School. In 2004, Lindgren played her way to the individual championship of the Indiana Girls State Tournament, where she also finished runner-up in 2003, on her way to receiving the Indiana Golf Tour Player of the Year honors. In addition, the Huntington, Ind., product was named as a Future Collegians World Tour (FCWT) second team All-American. She averaged a 73.9 as a junior and 74.4 as a senior, including a career-low round of 67 in the final qualifying round of the Girls State Juniors at the Players Club in Muncie, Ind. She was also a four-year All-Conference, All-Sectional, All-Regional and All-State performer, as well as a member of the National Honor Society.
"Our incoming recruiting class is very exciting," Wallman explained. "Having an experienced and successful collegiate player like Shannon come in and play immediately is really big for us. Shannon will provide us with solid scoring as well as a tremendous amount of experience. Along with Molly, Katie and Elaine, Shannon will be able to help our incoming freshman with the rigors of college golf.
"I am equally excited about our freshman, Amber, Tiffany and Tara. Anytime you can add the past two Indiana State Junior Girls Champions to the roster, you have to be excited. Amber already has the game to compete with the best of the Big Ten and Tiffany works as hard as anyone I have seen. Tara is equally as talented as Amber and Tiffany. Earning All-State accolades two years in a row as well as the All-Conference team all four years of high school is a big accomplishment. I am expecting great things from these three freshmen. The future is very bright for Indiana Golf."
With the nucleus returning next season for the IU women's golf team, as well as welcoming four outstanding golfers, Wallman can't help but to smile when talking about the future of his program. He knows that it is just a matter of time before IU is among the nation's best.
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