Indiana University Athletics
2008-09 Preview- Women's Golf
9/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Sept. 15, 2008
Heading into the 2008-09 season, fifth-year head coach Clint Wallman has a lot to be excited about. Wallman returns four players who have helped the team advance to NCAA postseason play each of the last two seasons, and he has seen his teams improve their standing at the Big Ten Championship each season, most recently capped by a fourth-place finish in 2008.
With a group of veterans ready to lead the way, the team also welcomes six newcomers who look to make their mark with Indiana Golf.
The Hoosiers return just one senior in Kokomo native Amber Lindgren. Last season Lindgren competed in nine tournaments, recording her best finish of the season at the Wolverine Invitational where she tied for 17th with a three-round total of 232. One of her most memorable moments as a collegiate golfer came at the Mountain View Collegiate where she recorded a hole-in-one and helped lead Indiana to the team title.
"Amber has been here through the whole process of building this team and has meant a lot to the program," Wallman said. "She is going to bring a lot of experience and will leave her mark by helping the younger players we have joining the team. I see her being a consistent traveler and having a breakout year."
The heart of the Indiana lineup lies in its junior trio of Anita Gahir, Kellye Belcher and Laura Nochta. As freshmen these three helped guide the team to the NCAA Championship and added to their postseason experience with a trip to the NCAA East Regional in 2008.
"Those three have played virtually every tournament since they stepped on campus," Wallman said. "I have seen them make that jump to upperclassmen and each one of them is going to be greatly improved this year."
Gahir is coming off a solid season where she earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after recording a season stroke average of 76.16. She was the Hoosiers top finisher at the Big Ten Championships (t-14th) and posted a season-best finish of seventh at the Mountain View Invitational. Gahir added her name to the IU record book in that tournament with a third round score of 68, tying for the second-lowest round in school history. She accomplished all this despite playing with an injury for much of the season and is back healthy as she readies for her junior campaign.
"I expect Anita to really come out and be one of the best players in the Big Ten," Wallman said. "She should be right there competing for Big Ten Player of the Year. She is that good."
Belcher played all but three rounds her sophomore season and finished with a 77.48 scoring average. She had five top-25 finishes, highlighted by an 11th-place result at the Johnie Imes Invitational. Her best three-round score of 222 came at the UNLV Spring Invitational where she tied for 35th.
"Kellye is a great player and is really comfortable with where she is at right now," Wallman said. "She has really improved over the two years here and I see her coming to school this season to make a statement that she is one of the top Big Ten players."
Nochta was one of three players to compete in all 36 rounds in 2007-08 and wound up second on the squad in scoring (76.47). She had a strong fall campaign with a second-place finish at the Wolverine Invitational and a total of three top-10 finishes. Her consistent play carried over into the spring with a fourth-place showing at the Mountain View Collegiate and was 19th at the Big Ten Championships.
"Laura continues to be one of our hardest workers," Wallman said. "She has traveled to every tournament during her time at IU and I see her making that jump to the next level. She has been very close to winning a tournament and I can see her coming up with a victory or two this season."
Sophomore Lauren Giesecke saw limited action in her rookie campaign but showed flashes of the potential that lies in her game. Her only tournament appearance of the season came at the IU Invitational at Crooked Stick Golf Club in the spring, and she came out firing rounds of 77 and 78 on day one of her first-ever collegiate competition.
"Lauren is an amazing natural talent," Wallman said. "She has worked really hard this off season to prepare herself and I know she wants to earn one of those travel spots. She is going to be very instrumental to our success as it is important we be competitive in those third to sixth playing slots."
Sophomore Cecilia Orevik comes to the program after playing her freshman season at Middle Tennessee State. During the fall she played in three tournaments with a 77.50 average and a season-best finish of 11th at the Aztec Fall Classic. "I am really excited about Cecilia coming to Indiana," Wallman said. "She has a great work ethic and a great attitude. She will be an immediate contributor to the team."
Carly Brey redshirted last season and used the opportunity to learn from the Hoosiers' more senior players as she made the transition to the Division I level.
"Carly has worked very hard this off-season to shore up some things in her game," Wallman said. "I think she is coming back ready to attack the golf course."
Sara Poppas is a former teammate of Giesecke at Northwestern High School in Kokomo. She was the 2007 Mid-Indiana Conference champion and a four-time all-league pick.
"Sara is just a really gritty player," Wallman said. "She is so focused on getting the ball in the hole and doesn't really care what it looks like. Coming to IU, she is going to be instrumental in the mix, pushing the competition for traveling spots to make sure those that travel deserve it. Depending on how she adjusts to the college game, I can see her traveling and competing."
Marina Karamanis is a two-time all-state selection out of Barrington (Ill.) High School. Over the summer she recorded four Illinois Junior Golf Association Regional Tournament first-place finishes and a pair of second-place showings.
"Marina is a tireless worker," Wallman said. "Her dream is to come and compete at the Division I level. She wants to make that lineup and when you have someone that dedicated and competitive, it will add to the team chemistry.
"This whole group is really exciting. I think it is going to be a good mix of newcomers and returners. It will push us to the next level. I really believe the strength of our team is in the bottom part of the lineup. It is important to have people who are competitive enough and work hard enough to make sure the right people are traveling."
Not only do the Hoosiers lose the scoring ability of graduated seniors Elaine Harris and Lauren Harling, but the team will also need to fill the leadership void that is left with their departure.
"Amber has been a quiet leader for us throughout the years, but now it is really her time to shine," Wallman said. "I really expect her to set the tone. She is born and bred Indiana and sees this year as her opportunity to leave a lasting legacy with the underclassmen so they can carry the torch.
"Supporting Amber in that role will be our three juniors (Anita Gahir, Kellye Belcher, Laura Nochta). They are natural leaders because they have been playing since they got here and understand what it takes."
The season begins Sept. 18-20 at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational at the University of New Mexico Golf Course, site of the 2008 NCAA Championships. It is a homecoming for Wallman as he served as an assistant with the Lobos from 2002-04.
Wisconsin plays host to the Badger Invitational (Sept. 27-28), followed by the Lady Northern (Oct. 18-19). The traditional Big Ten preview will be held at Purdue's Kampen Course, site of this year's Big Ten Championships.
"This is always a huge tournament for us because not only do we get to see the course before we head there in the spring, but also the field is typically very strong," Wallman said.
The fall season concludes with the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown (Oct. 27-29).
"The fall schedule is challenging and that will allow us to step back and see where we stand," Wallman said. "With our group, I feel very comfortable with our level of opponents."
Play resumes with a match against Wisconsin on Feb. 1, followed by the Lady Puerto Rico Invitational (Feb. 8-10).
"The theme for this year is a more national feel to our schedule," Wallman said. "Strength of schedule is very important, which is why we decided to go back to Puerto Rico this year. It is a national-level field and a great way to kick off the year."
The Hoosiers travel back to Las Vegas for the UNLV Spring Invitational (March 9-11), then travel to Arizona for the Mountain View Collegiate (March 28-29), where they are the defending champions.
"I don't know what we can do to top last year, having an individual winner and the team title, so I guess we will try to do it again," Wallman said.
"Saddlebrook seems to be a good golf course for us. We have good feelings about the course and when you like a course, you usually do well."
This year's IU Invitational moves to the Otter Creek Golf Club in Columbus, Ind., on April 6-7.
"Otter Creek is one of the best courses in Indiana," Wallman said. "It is very fair, yet challenging. We have a great field coming and anytime you can host your own event you are hopeful your team will perform well."
The Lady Buckeye Invitational (April 18-19) gives IU a look at the Ohio State University Scarlet Course, site of the 2009 NCAA Central Regional. It will also serve as the final tune-up for the Big Ten Championships, April 24-26 at Purdue's Kampen Course.
"This is a flagship conference," Wallman said. "We have had anywhere from four to seven teams ranked in the top 50. I expect a very competitive year amongst everyone. I would say Purdue is the conference favorite with all their recent success, but after that it is anyone's game. We could finish anywhere from the top two to the top six. It will be that close, and it will be fun to watch it play out."
Players Mentioned
