Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Head To NCAA Central Regionanl
5/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
May 8, 2007
NCAA Central Regional Notes
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The Indiana University women's golf team will head back to Michigan, this time to Ann Arbor, for the NCAA Central Regional Championship.
The 17th-seeded Hoosiers will be joined in the field by Georgia, Vanderbilt, USC, Tennessee, Arizona, Michigan State, TCU, Baylor, Arkansas, Kent State, Ohio State, Northwestern, Michigan, Missouri, SMU, Maryland, UNC Wilmington, Oral Roberts, Southern Illinois and St. Francis (Pa.).
INSIDE THE NCAA CENTRAL REGIONAL
The NCAA Central Regional will be a 54-hole event, with 18 holes being played each day beginning at 8 a.m. The event begins on Thursday, May 10, and will conclude on Saturday, May 12. The University of Michigan Golf Course, designed by Alister MacKenzie in the late 1920s, will play host to the event. The layout will be set up as a par-71, 6,116-yard course for the Regional. A total of 21 teams and three individuals were chosen for the Central Regional, and the top eight teams will advance to the NCAA Finals, which will be held on May 22-25 at the LPGA International Golf Course in Daytona Beach, Fla
INDIANA IN NCAA REGIONAL ACTION
The Hoosiers will be participating in their first NCAA Regional under the direction of head coach Clint Wallman. Overall, IU has advanced to 12 regionals since the inception of the events in the 1992-93 season, with its best year coming in 1995. That season, the Hoosiers won the Big Ten title and tied for sixth at the NCAA East Regional, advancing to finish fifth at the NCAA Championships.
LAST TIME OUT
Freshman Anita Gahir finished tied for 15th at her first Big Ten Championship on April 27-29, as the Indiana women's golf team wrapped up the event in fifth place. The injury-plagued Hoosiers had a team total of 1244 (311-315-304-314) at the event.
Gahir carded an 80 on Sunday for a four-round total of 310 (75-76-79-80). She was followed by junior Elaine Harris at 313 (81-81-72-79), good for a tie for 21st place and junior Lauren Harling, who turned in a 313 (77-81-76-79) at the event to also finish in 21st place. Freshman Kellye Belcher wrapped up the tournament in 28th place with a 72-hole total of 316 (84-78-77-77), while classmate Laura Nochta tied for 33rd at 318 (78-80-81-79). Sophomore Amber Lindgren rounded out the IU lineup tied for 50th position with a total of 327 (82-82-82-81).
WEEKLY HONORS, TAKE TWO
Indiana junior golfer Elaine Harris had the awards rolling in after a record-breaking performance at the Mountain View Collegiate on March 24-25. Harris was tabbed Golfweek's National Women's Golfer of the Week for her play, and she also earned her second Big Ten Women's Golfer of the Week honor in three weeks.
With her conference honor, Harris became the first Hoosier to claim two weekly awards since Shannon Johnson garnered the honor twice in the spring of 2006. She was first awarded the honor on March 16. It is also the first national weekly award of Harris' career.
The San Francisco native earned her second Big Ten Golfer of the Week honor of the season after capturing her first tournament title with a school-record 7-under-par total of 209 (70-69-70) at the Mountain View Collegiate. Her 69 in the second round tied a career low, which she set at the UNLV Spring Invitational the previous weekend. With her victory, Harris helped the Hoosiers to a third-place finish at the event.
Along the way, she topped the former three-round program record of 211, set by Johnson in 2006. With her play, Harris also became just the third Hoosier in school lore to record two rounds of 69 or below in her career (Johnson and Karen Dennison).
RECORD SETTING
While in Las Vegas for the UNLV Spring Invitational, the Hoosiers set numerous program standards. Indiana's first-round 3-under-par 285 was just one shot off of the program low, which was set during the first round of the 1998 NCAA Championships. IU also matched that score in the second round. Its final score of 864 (285-285-294) shattered the previous program-low for a three-round tournament, 885, which had been set at the Lady Seahawk Invitational in 2003.
MAKING THEIR MARK
The three players that joined the Hoosiers in the fall of 2006 have already made their mark in a variety of ways since arriving in Bloomington. The trio of freshmen Kellye Belcher, Laura Nochta and Anita Gahir competed in all five tournaments in which IU played in during the fall. They wrapped up their first semester of competition as the No. 1 ranked freshman class in the country, according to GolfStat's Freshman Class Impact Rating, with a scoring average of 76.51 and a relative strength of 471.416.
Belcher currently leads the team with a scoring average of 76.13. Nochta is third at 77.09 and Gahir follows her in fifth with an average of 77.43. If they stay on the current pace, all three will shatter Lynn Dennison's freshman stroke average of 78.21, which has stood since the 1982-83 season.
TWO JOIN HOOSIER PROGRAM
Lauren Harling (Laurinburg, N.C./NC State) and Emily Johnson (Winona Lake, Ind./Warsaw) joined the Indiana women's golf program in the spring of 2007. Head coach Clint Wallman believes that these are two players that can have an immediate impact on the Hoosier lineup.
Harling joined the IU team after spending the past two years at North Carolina State University. She played in eight tournaments during her time with the Wolfpack, which was highlighted by tying for 35th at the NCAA East Regional Championship in 2005. Harling also tied for 31st at the Papa John's Collegiate to open the 2005-06 season, a tournament in which the Wolfpack captured the team title.
A native of Laurinburg, N.C., Harling placed 16th at the 2005 North Carolina Women's State Amateur after taking 15th the previous year. She was also a three-time All Mid-Southeastern Conference selection while at Scotland High School. A three-time team Most Valuable Player, Harling earned Charlotte Observer All-Observer Team honors twice during her career and was also a 2002 Nike All-American. During her junior career, Harling placed in the top 10 at numerous tournaments throughout both North Carolina and South Carolina.
Johnson, who came to Indiana from Warsaw High School in Winona Lake, Ind., brings a tremendous amount of national and state experience to the Hoosier lineup. She is a two-time Indiana state champion, having captured the title in 2003, during her freshman season, and this fall as a senior. With her title as a freshman, she became the first freshman in state history to capture the women's golf championship, and she is also one of just seven players to have ever repeated as state champion.
In addition to her state titles, Johnson has seen great success on the national scene during her junior career. She has placed in the top 10 in numerous national American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournaments. In addition to that experience, Johnson is also a two-time U.S. Junior Girl's qualifier in 2004 and 2006 and also qualified for the 2006 U.S. Women's Amateur. Although she did not advance past stroke play in 2004, she used that experience to her advantage in 2006, as she tied for 40th during the stroke play portion to advance to match play, where she fell to Kristie Smith of Australia in the first round, 4 and 2. Competing against some of the talented amateurs in the world at the U.S. Women's Amateur, Johnson failed to qualify for match play after turning in a total of 160 (81-79) during stroke play.
WINNING WAY
Junior Elaine Harris captured her first individual title with a 7-under-par total of 209 (70-69-70) at the Mountain View Collegiate on Sunday, March 25. With her victory on the SaddleBrooke Country Club, Harris became the first Hoosier to capture individual medalist honors since Shannon Johnson captured the 2006 UNLV Spring Invitational and also set a new single-tournament scoring mark.
As a team, the Hoosiers finished third at the event with a team total of 873 (297-287-298). Following Harris in the lineup was freshman Kellye Belcher, who tied for 19th position at the 54-hole event with a total of 219 (75-72-72). Junior Lauren Harling also turned in a top-25 performance, wrapping up the tournament in a tie for 23rd position with a total of 220 (77-70-73), while freshman Laura Nochta shared 69th after carding a 230 (75-81-74) over three rounds. Rounding out the IU lineup was sophomore Amber Lindgren, who tied for 77th place with a tournament total of 234 (77-76-81).
BELCHER NAMED ROLEX ALL-AMERICAN
Indiana University freshman Kellye Belcher was named a Rolex Junior All-American by the America Junior Golf Association (AJGA) on Oct. 26. The Bartlett, Tenn., native earned honorable mention honors for the second consecutive year.
En route to earning the honor, Belcher won two AJGA events in the summer of 2006 and finished the season ranked No. 48 in the Polo Golf Rankings. She was the medalist at the Jerry Pate/Andrews Institute Southern Junior in Pensacola, Fla., and at the True Temper/David Gossett Junior Championship in Memphis, Tenn.
WINNING WAYS
With IU's win at the Badger Invitational, it marked the 11th time in program history that the Hoosiers opened the season with a tournament championship. The last time that it occurred was in 2002 at the Wolverine Invitational. The win was also IU's first since the Baylor-Tapatio Springs in 2004 and the first under head coach Clint Wallman.
WRAPPING UP THE REGULAR SEASON
The Indiana women's golf team finished in a tie for eighth place at the Lady Buckeye Invitational, held at Ohio State's Scarlet Course. The Hoosiers wrapped up the event with a team total of 968 (317-321-330) on April 21-22.
Junior Elaine Harris led the Hoosiers by finishing in a tie for 30th with a total of 240 (78-77-85). She was followed by freshman Laura Nochta, who tied for 34th at 242 (83-78-81) and freshman Anita Gahir wrapped up the tournament in a tie for 37th after carding a 243 (79-82-82). Junior Lauren Harling carded a total of 246 (79-84-83) for the tournament to share 44th place, while senior Kendal Hake finished in 64th position with a total of 252 (82-86-84). Wrapping up the Hoosiers' lineup was sophomore Amber Lindgren, who shot a 257 (81-87-89) on the weekend to finish in a tie for 70th place.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
The Indiana women's golf team finished ninth as the host of the IU Invitational, held at Crooked Stick Golf Club, on April 10. The Hoosiers wrapped up the event with a team score of 623 (312-311).
Leading the way for the Hoosiers was freshman Kellye Belcher, who tied for 22nd with a total of 154 (76-78). She was followed by junior Lauren Harling, who shared 34th at 156 (77-79), while freshman Anita Gahir wrapped up the event in a tie for 46th with a two-round total of 158 (81-77). Junior Elaine Harris also tied for 46th position at 158 (78-80) and freshman Laura Nochta rounded out the lineup by sharing 73rd at 164 (87-77).
Three Hoosiers also competed as individuals, as sophomore Amber Lindgren shared 34th with Harling at 156 (82-74). Senior Kendal Hake tied for 53rd position with a total of 159 (82-77) and senior Gennifer Marrs tied for 87th after wrapping up the event with a total of 172 (86-86).
SETTING NEW MARKS
The Indiana women's golf team continued to set program standards as it wrapped up the UNLV Spring Invitational with a 54-hole total of 864 (285-285-294) to finish fourth. The Hoosiers eclipsed the previous program-low for a three round tournament, 885, which had been set at the Lady Seahawk Invitational in 2003.
Leading the way for Indiana was junior Elaine Harris, who tied for 10th place with a total of 214 (73-69-72). She was followed by freshman Anita Gahir, who carded a 216 (70-72-74), good for a tie for 16th, while freshman Laura Nochta wrapped up the event in 18th position with a tournament total of 217 (71-70-76). Junior Lauren Harling tied for 26th position with a 220 (73-75-72) and freshman Kellye Belcher rounded out the IU lineup in a tie for 34th at 222 (71-74-77). Competing as an individual, sophomore Amber Lindgren shared 29th position with a total of 221 (74-72-75).
GETTING BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS
The Indiana University women's golf team opened the spring season by falling to Notre Dame, 3 1/2 - 2 1/2, in a dual match at the Legends at Orange Lake on Sunday, Feb. 11. Noriko Nakazaki of Notre Dame defeated freshman Laura Nochta, 2 and 1, in the opening match. In a close match, freshman Kellye Belcher topped Lisa Manau, 1 up, while junior Lauren Harling fell to Kristin Wetzel by the same score.
Sophomore Amber Lindgren defeated Julie Kim, 3 and 2, for IU's second point of the day. Junior Kendal Hake was defeated by Annie Brophy, 2 up, and senior Jenny Kim and Alejandra Diaz-Calderon halved the final match to close out the event.
OPENING THE SPRING
The Indiana University women's golf team finished in 11th place at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic on Sunday, Feb. 25. The Hoosiers finished with a total of 927 (312-307-308) at the tournament, which was held at the Coco Beach Golf and Country Club.
Freshman Laura Nochta led the Hoosiers with a 54-hole total of 228 (74-77-77) to tie for 33rd place. She was followed by junior Lauren Harling, who tied for 48th at 233 (85-74-74) in her first event as a Hoosier, and freshman Anita Gahir, who placed in a tie for 52nd with a three-round total of 235 (79-80-76). Freshman Kellye Belcher wrapped up the tournament in 55th place after carding a total of 236 (79-76-81) and junior Elaine Harris rounded out the IU lineup by finishing in a tie for 68th position with a 241 (80-80-81) for the event.
Competing as an individual, sophomore Amber Lindgren shot a 247 (84-78-85) for the 54-hole event, finishing in a tie for 81st.
HEADING EAST
The Indiana women's golf team finished in 11th place at the Edwin Watts/Palmetto Intercollegiate. The Hoosiers carded a 916 (307-310-299) for their placement in their final tournament of the fall portion of the 2006-07 schedule on Oct. 30-31.
The Hoosiers were led by Anita Gahir, who finished in a tie for 15th place with a tournament total of 225 (76-76-73). She was followed by Laura Nochta, who finished in a tie for 32nd position after carding a 228 (76-79-73) for the tournament. Kellye Belcher tied for 41st place with a total of 231 (77-76-78), while Elaine Harris shared 44th place after firing a 232 (78-79-75) in IU's final event of the season. The lineup was rounded out by Kendal Hake, who was 90th with a total of 246 (82-81-83).
VISITING THE WEST
The Indiana women's golf team finished in eighth place at the Price's "Give `Em Five Fund" New Mexico State Invitational on Oct. 16-18. The Hoosiers had a team total of 919 (307-304-305) in the tournament for their placement. New Mexico State University hosted the tournament, held at the New Mexico State University Golf Course, and it was Indiana's first-ever trip to the state for a tournament.
Leading the way for Indiana was Laura Nochta, who finished in a tie for 13th place with a total of 225 (76-75-74). Following her was Kellye Belcher, who tied for 23rd in the event after carding a 228 (75-78-75) for the tournament.
Both Elaine Harris and Anita Gahir finished in a tie for 35th position with a tournament total of 232. Harris carded rounds of 78-78-76 for her total, while Gahir had rounds of 78-74-80 to reach that mark. Rounding out the Hoosier lineup was Tara Boone, who tied for 64th after firing a 239 (80-77-82).
BATTLING THE ELEMENTS AT WOLVERINE INVITATIONAL
The Indiana University women's golf team finished in a tie for fourth at the Wolverine Invitational on Sept. 30-Oct. 1, held at the University of Michigan Golf Course. The Hoosiers carded a 919 (308-304-307) for their placement in the tournament field. The second round was also completed on Sunday after inclement weather in the area made finishing the round on Saturday impossible.
Leading the way for Indiana was Laura Nochta, who tied for seventh at 226 (72-78-76). She was followed by Elaine Harris, who shared 15th place with a total of 228 (77-73-78) and Kellye Belcher, who tied for 20th with a 54-hole total of 230 (80-76-74).
Anita Gahir shared 30th position after carding a 235 (79-77-79), for the tournament and Tara Boone rounded out the Indiana lineup, sharing 50th with a total of 245 (86-78-81).
WRAPPING UP THE LADY NORTHERN
Kellye Belcher tied for second in her second collegiate event as the Indiana University women's golf team finished in seventh place at the Lady Northern Invitational. The Hoosiers finished with a team total of 920 (310-303-307) for their placement.
Belcher wrapped up the tournament in a tie for second with a total of 219 (74-71-74).
Following Belcher was Elaine Harris, who tied for 28th place with a total of 233 (78-80-75). She was joined in that position by Laura Nochta (78-76-79). Anita Gahir shared 37th position with a 54-hole total of 235 (80-76-79), and sophomore Amber Lindgren tied for 70th place with a total of 253 (86-85-82). Kendal Hake carded a total of 255 (83-89-83) to tie for 74th.
SUCCESS IN FAIR VERONA
With a lineup featuring three freshmen, one sophomore and a junior, the Indiana University women's golf team captured the team title at the Badger Invitational in Verona, Wis. The Hoosiers carded a total of 922 (313-307-302) while battling through inclement conditions over the 54-hole tournament.
Individually, Elaine Harris turned in the best finish of her career with a third-place finish. Her 10-over-par total of 226 (74-77-75) was just one stroke out of a share of medalist honors. Joining Harris in the top 10 were two of the IU newcomers. Kellye Belcher tied for sixth in her first collegiate tournament, turning in rounds of 77-76-76 for a total of 229. She was followed by Laura Nochta, who shared 10th place with a total of 233 (80-76-77). Narrowly missing out on a top-10 finish was another newcomer, as Anita Gahir tied for 12th, one stroke behind Nochta at 234 (82-78-74) for the 54-hole tournament. Rounding out the Hoosier lineup was Amber Lindgren. The Kokomo, Ind., native finished in a tie for 61st position with a tournament total of 258 (89-88-81).
Players Mentioned
