Indiana University Athletics
Women's Golf Opens 2005 Season at Notre Dame
9/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Sept. 8, 2005
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. _The 2005-06 women's golf campaign gets started with the first of five fall tournaments when the Hoosiers travel to South Bend, Ind., for the Notre Dame Invitational. This marks Indiana's first-ever appearance in the event.
The Fighting Irish have won the event three of the past five years; however, it was Iowa State which won the event in 2004 in record fashion. The Cyclones eclipsed the invitational's previous mark for the lowest single-round total with a 294 in the second round, and had a 54-hole total of 902 which is another invitational record.
The Field
The Notre Dame Invitational field consists of 17 teams, led by tournament host Notre Dame who has reached two consecutive NCAA Regionals. Other teams competing this weekend are Boston College, Bradley, Bucknell, Eastern Michigan, Georgetown, Illinois, Iowa State, IUPUI, St. Mary's, Toledo, Western Illinois, Western Michigan, Winthrop, Xavier and Yale.
Two Hoosiers Make Debuts
Senior transfer Shannon Johnson and true freshman Amber Lindgren will make their Indiana debut in South Bend, Ind., at the Notre Dame Invitational. They are two of five newcomers to the IU women's golf team this season.
Johnson is a decorated and talented player who will play her final season at Indiana. She was a two-time member of the Mountain West All-Conference team, and ranked among the nation's best while at the University of New Mexico.
Lindgren also boasts a proud resume, as she earned the Indiana Junior Golf Tour Player of the Year honors. The Kokomo, Ind., product garnered a second team All-America by the Future Collegiate World Tour in 2004.
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.
Quick Recovery
After sitting out the entire spring season due to illness, sophomore Kendal Hake qualified in the second position for this weekend's Notre Dame Invitational. A year ago, Hake played in all four tournaments during the fall season before falling ill, averaging an 86.83.
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."
Head Coach Clint Wallman's Thoughts
On the feeling of heading into first tournament of 2005 fall campaign:
"There is a lot of optimism and enthusiasm heading into this year, with the new players we have as well as the returning experienced players. The girls are working very hard to have a great fall season. The Notre Dame tournament is a great opener for us as it has a nice balance of teams. The girls are playing really well and they are ready to tee it up."
On team chemistry:
"Well, we have a brand new environment. We have five players returning and five players coming in. They have really meshed well together. It's a unique situation because of our five newcomers, one is a graduate student, a junior and three freshmen, so we have a real range of people that are getting together. They are supportive of each other, they have worked hard, they have pushed one another and I think the chemistry of this group is special."
On the expectations for this tournament:
"I think this is a great tournament for us to start the year out. Notre Dame is a great team who has reached the Regionals the last couple of years. I think it is an outstanding way for us to start because it is not a super deep field, but it's a good way for us to get our feet wet and it's also a great way for us to get to know each other a little better. We are playing on a great golf course and in a good field. I look for us to have a really good tournament."
