Indiana University Athletics
IU Hosts First Big Ten Championship Since 1996
4/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
April 25, 2006
Big Ten Championships 4/28/06
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana women's golf team will host the 2006 Big Ten Women's Golf Championships on April 28-30 at the Indiana University Golf Course. This marks the second tournament this season in which IU has played host. Earlier in the year, the Hoosiers hosted the Lady Northern Championship on Sept. 24-25, which served as a preview for the Big Tens. The Hoosiers finished fifth overall in the 12-team field, with a 909 (307-297-305).
The last time the Hoosiers hosted a Big Ten Championship occurred in 1996. That year, IU claimed the title with a 946 (315-318-313), led by Erica Wicoff's 226 (76-75-75), who claimed medalist honors.
The Field
Joining the Hoosiers at the 2006 Big Ten Championships will be Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin.
Indiana At The Big Ten Championships
Indiana has seen success at the Big Ten Women's Golf Championships in past years. The Hoosiers have claimed seven championship crowns, which ranks second in league history. IU's last Big Ten title came in 1998 at University Park, Pa. The Hoosiers also have claimed the championship title in 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1995 and 1996. Additionally, IU hosted the Big Tens on two other occasions in school lore in 1985 and 1996. The Hoosiers finished second overall in 1985 behind Ohio State, and claimed the tournament title in 1996.
Indiana has garnered 10 Big Ten individual medalist honors in school history, including two honorees over the last three seasons (Karen Dennison in 2003 and Danah Ford in 2004). Former Hoosier Erica Wicoff claimed medalist honors a school record three times (1994, 1995 and 1996), while the only other women's golfer in IU lore to claim individual honors more than once was Erin Carney (1998 and 1999).
Peaking At The Right Time
As the Hoosiers prepare to compete at the Big Ten Championships on April 28-30, Indiana is peaking at the right time. The Hoosiers averaged a team score of 318.2 through the opening two tournaments this spring. Over its last three tournaments, however, IU has dropped its per-round average by 10 strokes to 307.8.
Johnson Earns Second Big Ten Women's Golfer Of The Week Award
For the second time this spring, Indiana golfer Shannon Johnson earned the Big Ten Women's Golfer of the Week, following her performance at the Illini Spring Invitational on April 14-15. Johnson became the first Hoosier in school history to win the award twice in the same season.
Johnson earned her second weekly nod of the campaign after placing second overall at last weekend's Illini Spring Invitational. The Hoosier senior, who garnered the highest Big Ten finish out of four league schools in the event, recorded a three-over par 147 (75-72) during the 36-hole event and finished just one stroke behind the tournament's medalist, Cathryn Bristow of Oregon.
Johnson began the event's second day in a tie for fourth overall, but shot even par on Saturday, which marked the third time over her last five rounds she posted a round of par or better. The second-place finish also marked the fourth time this season Johnson finished among the top five in a tournament, including two victories (Notre Dame Invitational on Sept. 10-11 and the UNLV Spring Invitational on March 13-15).
Hoosiers Tie For Season-Best Finish
Behind the strong and steady play of senior Shannon Johnson, the Indiana women's golf team finished fifth overall in the 16-team field at the 2006 Illini Spring Invitational, carding a 620 (314-306) in the 36-hole event. It tied the season-best finish for the Hoosiers, who also placed in fifth overall at the Lady Northern Invitational on Sept. 24-25.
Johnson began the event's second day in a tie for fourth overall, but shot even par on Saturday on the par-72, 5,864-yard Stone Creek Golf Course. It marked the third time over her last five rounds the Sioux Falls, S.D., native shot par or better. The second-place finish also marked the fourth time this season Johnson finished among the top five in a tournament, including two victories (Notre Dame Invitational on Sept. 10-11 and the UNLV Spring Invitational on March 13-15).
Johnson became one of four Hoosiers to break 80 on the final day of the tournament. Sophomore Elaine Harris shot a 76 over the final 18 holes, and finished tied for 19th overall with a 156 (80-76). Freshman Tiffany Hockensmith tied her career-low round with a 77 to finish in a tie for 40th with a 161 (84-77). Junior Jenny Kim became the fourth Hoosier to place in the top 40, coming in tied for 31st with a 159 (78-81). Senior Molly Redfearn closed out the scoring Hoosiers with a 165 (81-84).
Johnson Claims UNLV Spring Invitational, National Player of the Week Honors
Senior Shannon Johnson blistered the Boulder Creek Golf Course with her second round of 68 in three days, to run away with medalist honors with a school record of five-under par 211 (68-75-68) at the UNLV Spring Invitational. For her efforts, the No. 47 nationally-ranked women's golfer in the country earned Golfweek and Golfworld's National Women's Player of the Week, as well as Big Ten Women's Player of the Week accolades.
The Sioux Falls, S.D., native topped the former three-round school record of 212, set by former All-American Karen Dennison at the 2002 Shootout at the Legends. Johnson also became the first IU golfer in school lore to record two separate rounds of 68 in the same tournament. Additionally, Johnson became the second Hoosier in school history to record rounds of 69 or below twice in her career (Dennison). The victory marked Johnson's second of the 2005-06 campaign. She also captured medalist honors at the Notre Dame Invitational on Sept. 11.
Record Pace
Senior Shannon Johnson is looking to leave her mark on the IU record books. The Sioux Falls, S.D., native is averaging a 74.36 per 18 holes during the 2005-06 campaign. Should that pace continue, Johnson will be one of just four women's golfers in school history to average below 75.00 during a season. In addition to her record-breaking performance at the UNLV Spring Invitational, her name is also found in the school record books. Her 36-round score of 143 at the Shootout at the Legends on Oct. 10-11, 2005 tied for the ninth-best 36-hole mark in school history.
Below is a break down of the top-10 single-season averages in school history and where Johnson would rank if the trend continues:
Avg. Player Rds. Season
1. 73.92 Erika Wicoff 38 1994-95
2. 73.94 Karen Dennison 32 2002-03
3. 74.36 Shannon Johnson 19 2005-06
4. 74.73 Erin Carney 40 1997-98
5. 75.06 Danah Ford 33 2003-04
6. 75.23 Erin Carney 31 1998-99
7. 75.34 Natalie Tucker 32 2000-01
8. 75.38 Karen Dennison 34 2003-04
9. 75.63 Natalie Tucker 32 1999-00
10. 75.78 Erika Wicoff 36 1993-94
On A Streak
After two events played during the spring season, senior Shannon Johnson and sophomore Elaine Harris are both riding impressive streaks from the fall season of sub-80 rounds. Johnson has not had a round of 80 or higher in 28 consecutive rounds. Harris has been just as hot for the Hoosiers. After shooting above 80 through the first four rounds of the 2005 fall season, the San Francisco, Calif., native has carded a sub-80 round in 19 of her last 22 rounds. On the season, Johnson's 74.36 stroke average leads the team, while Harris' 77.57 per round is second-best.
Lindgren Has Career-Best Finish
Freshman Amber Lindgren had an impressive performance at Illini Spring Invitational on April 14-15. Playing as an individual, Lindgren closed the 36-hole event with a round of 74 - the second-lowest 18-hole mark in her IU career - and finished with a 153 (79-74). The score tied them for 10th overall, marking the first top-10 finish of her career. Her previous career-best finish came at the Lady Northern Invitational on Sept. 24-25, where she tied for 23rd overall.
Johnson Ranked Among Nation's Best
Indiana senior golfer Shannon Johnson is ranked among the nation's top 50 players according to Golfstat's latest national rankings. Johnson enters this week at No. 43 in the nation after capturing the 2006 medalist honors at the UNLV Spring Invitational on March 13-15 and a second-place finish at the Illini Spring Invitational on April 14-15. Additionally, the Sioux Falls, S.D., native has climbed to No. 7 among Division I golfers in the Central Region.
Head Coach Clint Wallman's Thoughts
With everything leading up to this point, how do you feel where the team is currently:
"We have talked all year about the progression and learning for this weekend. I feel really good about the players that are competing, the course condition and the way we practiced and played this spring. I have nothing but optimistic feelings for this weekend's Big Ten Championships."
Discuss the advantage IU has playing the Big Tens on its home course:
"Obviously, playing on your home course makes you more familiar and more comfortable. They are going to feel more comfortable with the surroundings. The hole locations here strategically are going to be challenging, but they have experience playing the greens. I think the home course advantage is significant."
Talk about the team goals for this year's championships:
"Everyone wants to win the conference championship when they host it, so that goes without saying. Our goal is really to be the best we can be, and our best on this golf course can be very, very good. We have no control over what other teams do, but I would like to see us post under-300 rounds, which would put us in the thick of things. We have to stay patient, do what we are capable of doing and play with the intensity we have played with the last couple weeks."
How is the team's confidence heading into this weekend:
"The team's confidence is very high right now. Last weekend (at the Lady Buckeye Invitational) was the first time we had to throw out a countable score this spring. We had five players at 79 and below, and of those five we had a lot of good numbers. That was really encouraging because we could have eliminated a couple of bad holes and we would have been right there in the thick of things. So they know they have it in them, but it is just a matter of staying patient, keeping clear focus and going out and doing what they are capable of doing."
Players Mentioned
