Michigan
Saluki Invitational
Benedict, Lemanski Lead U-M to Runner-Up Finish at SIU
3/27/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Site:Â Carbondale, Ill.
Course: Hickory Ridge G.C. (par 72, 5,999 yards)
Event:Â Saluki Invitational (Host Southern Illinois University)
Michigan Finish:Â 2nd Place of 16 Teams (312-319/631)
Top U-M Individual:Â Kim Benedict, 4th (77-76/153)
Next U-M Event:Â Sat-Sun., April 8-9 -- at Indiana Invitational (Bloomington, Ind.)
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A final-round 319 -- the best team score of the day -- helped the University of Michigan women's golf team to a runner-up finish at the 16-team Saluki Invitational, hosted by Southern Illinois University on Sunday and Monday (March 26-27) at Hickory Ridge Golf Course.
The Wolverines carded rounds of 312 and 319 for a 631 total to finish eight shots behind team champion Wisconsin (303-320/623) and two ahead of third-place Southwest Missouri State (633). The second-place finish marks a Michigan season best and is the Wolverines' top finish in nearly three years, since placing second at the 1997 Purdue Boilermaker Invitational (April 12-13, 1997).
Freshman Kim Benedict (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS) and sophomore Misia Lemanski (Grosse Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile HS) led the way for the Wolverines, finishing fourth and sixth, respectively. They were two of just three golfers at the 36-hole tournament who put together back-to-back rounds in the 70s. Benedict's closing-round 76 tied for the second-best score of Monday's round, and her 153 total (77-76) and fourth-place finish are both career lows. Lemanski matched her top career finish and set season lows for a round (76 on Sunday) and a 36-hole tournament (76-79/155).
Sophomore Bess Bowers (Bloomington, Ind./North HS) and senior/junior Jennifer Baumann (Okemos, Mich./Okemos HS) tied for 25th place at 165, while sophomore Cortney Reno (Grosse Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile HS) followed up her opening-round 77 with an 89 for a 166 total and tie for 31st. Baumann set a season low with her second-day 81, and her tie for 25th is the top finish of her collegiate career.
The next action for the Wolverines will be the Indiana University Invitational on April 8-9 at the IU Golf Course in Bloomington, Ind.
Team Standings
1. Wisconsin 303-320 = 623
2. MICHIGAN 312-319 = 631
3. Southwest Missouri State 308-325 = 633
4. Southern Illinois 324-324 = 648
5. Eastern Kentucky 321-328 = 649
Illinois State 316-333 = 649
Toledo 313-336 = 649
8. Murray State 324-336 = 660
9. Eastern Michigan 321-340 = 661
10. Northern Iowa 330-335 = 665
11. Bradley 321-345 = 666
12. Creighton 335-361 = 696
13. Ferris State 354-356 = 710
14. Eastern Illinois 346-368 = 714
15. Evansville 362-372 = 734
16. John A. Logan 352-383 = 735
Top Individuals
1. Katie Connelly, Wisconsin 71-80 = 151
2. Suzanne Walker, Illinois State 72-80 = 152
Jaclyn Biro, Eastern Kentucky 72-80 = 152
4. Kim Benedict, U-M 77-76 = 153
5. Andrea Meeker, Wisconsin 78-76 = 154
6. Misia Lemanski, U-M 76-79 = 155
Other Michigan Individuals
T25. Bess Bowers 82-83 = 165 T25. Jennifer Baumann 84-81 = 165 T31. Cortney Reno 77-89 = 166 T69. LeAnna Wicks 92-88 = 180
Players Mentioned
