Indiana University Athletics
Women's Golf Travels to Badger Invitational
9/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Sept. 24, 2008
Indiana at Badger Invitational- Tournament Notes 
BADGER INVITATIONAL
Sept. 27-28
University Ridge Golf Course- Verona, Wis.
Tournament Field: California, College of Charleston, Georgetown, Illinois, Indiana, Kennesaw State, Maryland, Minnesota, Penn State, Southern Methodist, Tulane, Wisconsin
Course Information:University Ridge Golf Course • Par 72 • 6,216
Results: golfstat.com (Live Scoring); IUHOOSIERS.com (post-tournament results)
SETTING THE SCENE
• Indiana will get its first look at the competition in the Big Ten as it travels to Madison, Wis. this weekend for the Badger Invitational.
• The Hoosiers are coming off a ninth-place finish at the season-opening Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M.
• Junior Laura Nochta led Indiana, finishing tied for fourth with a three-round score of 217 (74-72-71).
• Indiana's last visit to the Badger Invitational was in 2006, and the team won the event with a 922 (313-307-302).
• As for the current Hoosiers, Kelley Belcher finished tied for sixth (77-76-76), Anita Gahir was tied for 12th (82-78-74), Laura Nochta tied for 10th (80-76-77) and Amber Lindgren tied for 61st (89-88-81) at the tournament in 2006.
THE LINEUP
• Junior Laura Nochta
• Junior Kellye Belcher
• Junior Anita Gahir
• Senior Amber Lindgren
• Sophomore Cecilia Orevik
Individual
• Freshman Sara Poppas
ABOUT THE BADGER INVITATIONAL
• The 12-team field will play 54 holes.
• The teams will play 36 holes Saturday in a shotgun format starting at 8:30 a.m.
• Sunday's final round will begin at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start.
• The low four individual scores will determine the team score for each round.
• Southern Methodist is the top returning finisher after placing fourth in 2007 (307-309=616).
• Indiana is the second-ranked team in the field according to the latest Golfweek/Sagarin National Rankings.
• California is No. 2, followed by the Hooisers (36).
• Individually, Laura Nochta is ranked No. 19 in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings.
COACH WALLMAN'S THOUGHTS
On the team's play at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational:
"We were hoping for a better finish, obviously, but we came away taking a lot of good things. Our play, for the most part, was pretty solid tee-to-green. We gave away some shots on and around the green. With that in mind, that has been our focus at practice this week."
On the play of junior Laura Nochta, who finished tied for fourth last weekend:
"She played like a college All-American. Tee-to-green she was so solid. But the thing that really separated her was the presence she had. I think a lot of that comes from maturity from her sophomore to junior year and the success she had playing amateur golf this summer. She validated the fact that she can compete at a high level."
On heading into the Badger Invitational this weekend:
"They really had a good week of practice. Having won it the last time we were there (in 2006), we have a lot better knowledge of the golf course.
" That course requires a bit a local knowledge and being a 36-18 (hole) format I think plays into our favor a bit."
On playing University Ridge Golf Course:
"The course is very similar to the courses we played in qualifying, and that was done on purpose. It is well out in front of you and there are no hidden shots. The thing about the course that is challenging is the greens. They are very similar to what we have been practicing on at Otter Creek. The greens are big, and multi-level but that isn't anything we haven't been working on this week or dealt with before."
On the team's confidence heading into the second tournament:
"The team confidence, team morale and team outlook is really high. That first trip you are trying to figure out where everyone is and how they will interact. Having a successful trip under our belt, they are a lot more confident and a lot more relaxed. I think they are looking to go and not just play well, but to win the whole thing."
BRANCH LAW FIRM/DICK MCGUIRE INVITATIONAL RECAP
• Indiana opened the 2008-09 season with a ninth-place finish at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational at the University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course in Albuquerque, N.M.
• The Hoosiers finished the tournament with a three-round score of 914 (303-208-303).
• Junior Laura Nochta got the year started on the right foot, finishing tied for fourth with a score of 217 (74-72-71). Nochta got better with each round of the tournament, going under par in the final two rounds, including a 2-under 71 on the final day. It was the sixth top-10 finish of her career.
• Junior Kellye Belcher also had a solid outing, opening with a 1-under 72 and finishing tied for 26th with a score of 227 (72-77-78).
• Junior Anita Gahir was third for Indiana and tied for 39th overall with a score of 231 (78-78-75). Gahir saved her best round for the final day of the event, shooting a 2-over 75.
• Senior Amber Lindgren tied for 73rd with a three-round total of 240 (80-81-79). Lindgren broke 80 on the final day of play, coming home at +6.
• Sophomore Cecilia Orevik finished tied for 79th in her first tournament for the Hoosiers, posting a 243 (79-82-82) over the three rounds.
• Freshman Sara Poppas also made her IU debut, finishing tied for 81st as an individual competitor. Poppas finished with a 244 (85-82-77), breaking through on the final day with a 4-over 77.
Players Mentioned
