Indiana University Athletics
Women's Golf Plays Host To IU Invitational
4/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
April 3, 2009
IU Invitational- Tournament Notes 
IU INVITATIONAL
April 6-7
Otter Creek Golf Club • Columbus, Ind.
Tournament Field: Indiana, Texas, UNLV, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Augusta State, Illinois State, Illinois, Ball State, Western Michigan, Marshall, Lipscomb
Course Information: Otter Creek Golf Club • Par 72 • 6,179 yards
Results: Golfstat.com (live scoring); IUHOOSIERS.com (post-tournament results)
SETTING THE SCENE
• Indiana will return home to play host to the IU Invitational at the Otter Creek Golf Club in Columbus, Ind.
• The Hoosiers are looking for their third-straight top-five finish and are coming off a fourth-place showing at the Mountain View Collegiate.
THE LINEUP
• Junior Laura Nochta
• Junior Anita Gahir
• Junior Kellye Belcher
• Senior Amber Lindgren
• Sophomore Cecilia Orevik
• Sophomore Lauren Giesecke (I)
• Freshman Emily Habbel (I)
• Freshman Sarah Poppas (I)
ABOUT THE IU INVITATIONAL
• Indiana's annual tournament moves to Otter Creek this year, which will be the site of the 2009 NCAA Central Regional.
• In addition to the Hoosiers, other top-60 teams in the field include No. 31 UNLV, No. 35 Texas and No. 49 Michigan.
• The tournament consists of 36 holes on Monday, April 6, followed by the final 18-hole round on Tuesday, April 7. It will be a shotgun start both days.
• Purdue won the event at Crooked Stick Golf Club in 2008, while the Hoosiers finished eighth.
• Indiana has won the event nine times since its inception in 1977-78. Its last win came in 1998-99.
COACH WALLMAN'S THOUGHTS
On the team's play last week in Arizona:
"They were really solid, even in the practice round. They were really relaxed; they like the golf course. They had a good mind-set and I think that was a contributing factor. They knew they were going to play well.
"They were not entirely happy with the first day, even though we posted two reasonably decent numbers. The last day they came out ready and Laura (Nochta) and Anita (Gahir) really got going.
"It was interesting because (Laura and Anita) were playing back-to-back and it was very competitive because they were watching each other make birdies and were pushing each other. That spread through the entire lineup. It was a good week on a variety of fronts. Everyone did something really well."
On finally getting an opportunity to play at home:
"Otter Creek is going to be a huge benefit to us. We've played it all year and they know they can play well on that course. They are very comfortable on it. I expect them to keep the momentum going from last week. Not having a big break between the two events and having positive momentum going out on a golf course they are familiar with, I think they are in very good shape."
On the tournament field this week:
"This is a very diverse field. It will be the third time we have seen UNLV and we played pretty much toe-to-toe with them at this last tournament. They are very talented. Texas is very talented. Michigan is good, so there are some strong teams in the field. But also I think it is a field where we realistically can compete and win the event. I think we have to put together three rounds like we did this past week, but that is not out of the question."
On this tournament having several Big Ten teams in the field as the conference tournament approaches:
"I think it is a big thing to set the tone. This past week at Mountain View there were a lot of Big Ten teams, including Michigan. Michigan is ranked ahead of us and we split with them this year, but last week we played pretty well and sent a message that we are still a team to be reckoned with.
"I think it is a very important thing. When you get in the conference tournament and you look at the teams, there is a pecking order. Purdue and Michigan State are up there, but after that I would put us and Ohio State right in there. Until someone really knocks people off, that is kind of how it is."
GAHIR NAMED BIG TEN WOMEN'S GOLFER OF THE WEEK
• After posting a 68 on the final day of the Mountain View Collegiate to finish tied for third, Indiana University junior golfer Anita Gahir was named the Big Ten Women's Golfer of the Week, the conference office announced April 1.
• In the third and final round of the tournament, Gahir finished one shot off her career best with a 4-under 68. Her three-round tally ended at 213 (71-74-68), putting her in a tie for third place. Gahir's score was just one off the tournament record which was set by Kansas State's Abbi Sunner with a 67 in the final round.
• Led by under par rounds from Gahir and Laura Nochta, the Hoosiers finished fourth with a score of 884, including a 289 in Sunday's final round. The Hoosiers have posted top-five finishes in each of their last two tournaments.
MOUNTAIN VIEW COLLEGIATE RECAP
• Junior Anita Gahir posted her second-lowest round of the season and the Hoosiers shot a 289 as a team on the final day to finish fourth at the Mountain View Collegiate in Tucson, Ariz.
• After rounds of 71 (-1) and 74 (+2), Gahir shot a 68 on the final day which was just one shot off the tournament record. That round bumped her into a tie for third with a total of 213.
• Laura Nochta also tied for third after rounds of 72 (E), 71 (-1) and 70 (-2).
• Kellye Belcher tied for 44th with a score of 228 (75-77-76).
• Amber Lindgren wrapped up tournament play with her best round, posting a 75 (+3) to finish tied for 60th (79-77-75=231).
• Sophomore Cecilia Orevik stayed in the 70s for her final two rounds to finish tied for 84th (82-76-79=237).
GOLFWEEK RANKINGS
• In the last set of rankings, posted on March 29, the Hoosiers moved up four spots to No. 56.
• Indian ranks fifth among the Big Ten schools, with nine of the 11 schools among the top 100.
• Purdue leads the way at No. 9, followed by Michigan State (20), Ohio State (27), Michigan (49), Minnesota (71), Northwestern (73), Wisconsin (77), Iowa (94), Illinois (106) and Penn State (126).
• Junior Laura Nochta is the top-ranked Hoosier at No. 84, moving up 11 spots from the previous week. Rounding out the top three for IU are Anita Gahir (166, up 54 spots) and Kellye Belcher (264).
• Maria Hernandez is the top-ranked individual in the Big Ten at No. 13.
Players Mentioned
