Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Wolverine Invitational
Indiana Places Third at Wolverine Invitational
9/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Sept. 30, 2007
Wolverine Invitational- Final Results (PDF)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Paced by a second-place finish from Laura Nochta, the Indiana women's golf team posted a third-place finish at the Wolverine Invitational at the University of Michigan golf course in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Entering the final round in fifth place, the Hoosiers posted a score of 308 in the final round to finish at +64 (306-302-308=916). Notre Dame won the tournament at +52, followed by Wisconsin (+56). It is the third-straight top-five finish for Indiana.
"We definitely had an opportunity to win it and were within five strokes at one point," said head coach Clint Wallman. "Unfortunately we just couldn't quite make it happen."
Stephany Fleet of Eastern Michigan took home individual medalist honors at +6 with Nochta, SMU's Kate Ackerson and Notre Dame's Lisa Maunu were two shots behind at +8.
Nochta continued her steady play with a 75 (+4) in the final round to tally a score of 221 (75-71-75). After back-to-back bogeys on five and six to open the final 18 holes, Nochta took command with pars on the next five holes and a birdie on 12. Nochta was sitting at +3 over for the round until a bogey on four left her at +4 for the day.
"Laura played really well and had by far her best tournament this season," Wallman said. "This is a really big confidence booster for her."
Senior Elaine Harris and junior Amber Lindgren both finished in a tie for 17th with three round scores of 232 (+19). Lindgren (75-79-78) shot a seven-over 78 on Sunday, closing the round strong with a birdie on six, her final hole of the day.
Harris opened with a bogey on six, but her play steadied as the day went on with pars on eight of nine consecutive holes. A slip-up down the stretch saw her double bogey three and shoot a five on the par-four fourth hole.
Just one stroke behind Harris and Lindgren was sophomore Kellye Belcher at +20 (80-75-78=233). Belcher opened round three on the eighth hole with a double bogey, one of two double bogeys on the day. Those holes were offset with a birdie on 13 and another on six as she closed the day a -1 over the final three holes.
Rounding out the IU contingent was senior Lauren Harling who posted her best round of the tournament with a 77 on Sunday for a three-round score of 238 (80-81-77). A bogey top open the day on No. 9 was followed up with pars on six of the next eight holes. Down the stretch she remained steady with six straight pars before a bogey on the final hole of the day left her at +6.
Indiana will play its third-straight tournament next week as it travels to Columbia, Mo. for the Johnie Imes Invitational. Play gets underway on Monday, Oct. 8 at the Club at Old Hawthorne. It will be the Hoosiers' first look at the University of Missouri's new home course.
"I have heard good things about the course," Wallman said. "It is open with a lot of bunkers and we will probably be dealing with some wind. We just need to come out ready."
Players Mentioned
