Weekly Release #3
10/5/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Sat-Sun., Oct. 9-10 -- Wolverine Invitational (U-M Golf Course)
Mon-Tue., Oct. 11-12 -- at Women's Collegiate Shootout (Franklin, Ind.)
Next on the Tee
The University of Michigan women's golf team hosts the Wolverine Invitational, which features 13 teams competing head-to-head on Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 9-10). The invitational will take place at the par-73, 5,962-yard University of Michigan Golf Course, which was designed by Alister MacKenzie, who also designed such golfing masterpieces as Augusta National, Cypress Point and the West Course at Royal Melbourne.
Invitational Format
The Wolverine Invitational will consist of 36 holes, 18 of which will be played on Saturday followed by 18 on Sunday. The invitational is part of the 1999-2000 Rolex Collegiate Tour. There will be a tee time start on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. On Sunday, the teams will begin play with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m.
Participating Teams
This year the Wolverine Invitational will feature 13 teams, including members of the Big Ten, Mid-American and Missouri Valley conferences. The teams travelling to Ann Arbor include Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Eastern Michigan, Illinois, Illinois State, Kent, Notre Dame, Ohio, Southern Illinois, Southwest Missouri State, Toledo and Western Michigan.
A Look at Last Year's Invite
At the 1998 Wolverine Invitational, Michigan State University took home the title over 13 other teams. Michigan State shot 42-over par 626 to win the two-day, 36-hole tournament by 26 shots over runner-up Purdue. Originally scheduled for 54 holes, the tournament was shortened to 36 holes after Saturday's second round was cancelled due to rain.
Michigan State sophomore Kasey Grant led the field from start to finish with a pair of 74s for a 2-over 148 total. Michigan's Sharon Park was the runner-up after rounds of 76 and 80 for a 10-over-par (156) finish. Cincinnati's Shelley Jonda, Michigan State's Emily Bastel and Purdue's Angela Blythe shared third place with 12-over par finishes (158).
The Michigan Lineup
Michigan's six-individual lineup is led by sophomore Bess Bowers (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington North HS), sophomore LeAnna Wicks (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) and junior Amy Talbot (Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS). Rounding out the field are freshman Kim Benedict (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS), junior Trish Watkins (Darien, Conn./Darien HS) and sophomore Cortney Reno (Grosse Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile HS).
Looking to Breaking into Top 10
After finishing the first two tournaments of the season with 10th-place finishes, the Wolverines are looking to break into the top 10 as they host the Wolverine Invitational on their own home course. All signs are positive as the Wolverines have finished in the top five twice in the past three years of their tournament.
Michigan opened its season with a 10th-place finish out of 20 teams at the Lady Northern Invitational in Madison, Wis. Michigan finished the tournament with team rounds scores of 325-324-317 for a three-day tournament total of 966. The Wolverines continued with a solid performance at the Mary Fossum Invitational Sept. 25-26 in East Lansing, Mich. The Wolverines finished 10th out of 18 teams after round scores of 321-322-319 for a three-round total of 962.
Consistency Key to Success for Bowers
After leading the Wolverines in the opening tournament of the season, sophomore Bess Bowers continues to show her consistent play during the early fall season. At the Mary Fossum Invitational (Sept. 25-26) she fired three straight rounds of 81 to finish tied for 45th overall. Bowers leads the team with a 79.8 stroke average after playing six rounds in 476 total strokes.
Benedict Shakes Any Sign Of Second Tournament Jitters
After finishing 63rd in her first collegiate tournament, Kim Benedict finished tied for 26th and led the Wolverines at Michigan State's Mary Fossum Invitational. She fired rounds of 78-83-76 for a three-round total of 237, which was her best score of her very young career. Benedict currently is third on the team with an 81.0 stroke average over six rounds.
Watkins and Reno Compete in First Tournament
Junior Trish Watkins and sophomore Cortney Reno saw their first action of the season at the Mary Fossum Invitational (Sept. 25-26). Reno finished tied for 37th overall at the Forest Akers Golf Club after rounds of 82-77-83 for a total of 242. Watkins finished tied for 55th after rounds of 81-85-84 for a total of 250.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
