Michigan
Hatter Fall Classic
U-M Wins Hatter Fall Classic to Complete Perfect Fall
10/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. -- Holding off the charge of Central Florida, the ninth-ranked University of Michigan women's golf team completed a perfect fall season Sunday (Oct. 21) as the Wolverines won their fourth straight tournament title by just a single shot at Stetson's Hatter Fall Classic at Mission Inn Resort's El Campeon Course.
The Maize and Blue opened the tournament with a 316 team total but rallied with back-to-back team totals of 305 for a 926 tournament total, one stroke ahead of runner-up Central Florida (310-312-305/927). Florida State (318-310-316/944) was third. The victory for the Wolverines sets the Michigan mark for most wins in a season and continues to increase its record for consecutive victories with four.
Junior Kim Benedict (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS) led the charge for the Wolverines as she tied for fourth after carding rounds of 79-74-78 for a 231 Classic total. Senior Cortney Reno (Grosse Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile HS) followed right behind as she tied for sixth after firing rounds of 79-77-76 for a 232 total.
Senior LeAnna Wicks (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) and freshman Laura Olin (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS) both tied for 14th with 237 tournament totals. After shooting an 86 in the first round, Wicks rallied the last two days with scores of 75 and 76. Olin opened with an 80 and followed with an 82, but charged back in the final round with a 75.
Misia Lemanski (Grosse Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile HS) and fellow senior Bess Bowers (Bloomington, Ind./North HS), who competed as an individual, tied for 27th with 240 tournament totals. Lemanski had rounds of 78-79-83, while Bowers carded three consecutive rounds of 80.
Central Florida's Federica Piovano won medalist honors after a five-over-par 222 performance (75-76-71). Florida State's Kristin Tamulis (78-76-74/228) was runner-up and Miami's (Fla.) Camilla Hilland (79-73-78/230) was third.
With its fall season completed, the Maize and Blue will not see tournament action for another three months until opening the spring season in San Diego, Calif., where the Wolverines will try to extend their winning streak and defend their team title at the Lady Aztec Invitational, Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 18-19) at Barona Creek Golf Club.
Team Standings
1. MICHIGAN 316-305-305 = 926 2. Central Florida 310-312-305 = 927 3. Florida State 318-310-316 = 944 4. North Carolina State 316-311-318 = 945 Indiana 317-316-312 = 945 6. Miami (Fla.) 325-311-310 = 946 7. Charleston Southern 325-311-320 = 956 8. Florida International 325-309-336 = 970 9. Georgia State 346-315-315 = 976 10. Florida Atlantic 329-325-331 = 985 11. Rollins College 337-331-319 = 987 12. Florida Southern 337-318-338 = 993 13. Winthrop 346-331-321 = 998 14. Western Michigan 342-333-330 = 1005 15. Jacksonville State 361-333-334 = 1028 Stetson 355-344-329 = 1028 17. Daytona Beach C.C. 342-356-332 = 1030 18. Campbell 327-318-WDTop Individuals
1. Federica Piovano, Central Florida 75-76-71 = 222 (+5) 2. Kristin Tamulis, Florida State 78-76-74 = 228 3. Camilla Hilland, Miami (Fla.) 79-73-78 = 230 4. KIM BENEDICT, U-M 79-74-78 = 231 Karen Dennison, Indiana 78-77-76 = 231 6. CORTNEY RENO, U-M 79-77-76 = 232 Andrea Sarratt, Fla. International 78-78-76 = 232 8. Sarah Bonner, N.C. State 75-78-82 = 235 Tina Miller, Miami (Fla.) 78-80-77 = 235Other Michigan Scores
T14. LeAnna Wicks 86-75-76 = 237 T14. Laura Olin 80-82-75 = 237 T27. Misia Lemanski 78-79-83 = 240 T27. Bess Bowers* 80-80-80 = 240 * played as an individual
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Kathy Teichert
On the fourth win in a row ... "As I have said over the past few weeks, we've never been in a situation where we've won or been in a position to win four on a row. It is an unbelievable feat. It is exciting. It is enjoyable. I don't really know what to say. Honestly, I don't. I thought this tournament was going to be difficult to pull off. Central Florida was playing a little better than us, but our kids played together and stuck together and came through in the end."
On the team's reaction to another win ... "They are on top of the world. They kept saying when we got here that we were going to win this thing, we are going to win this thing. We did."
On the fall season ... "I can't really say anything right now ... I don't really know what to say. [10 second pause]. Amazing. A--maz--ing!"
On an added pressure felt before the tournament ... "I think anytime you going into a tournament you are going to feel added pressure. Coming into a tournament having won three straight there is even more. But we played well. We let things come to us. The girls are really concentrated and stayed within themselves. What was impressive about this tournament was on the last day we had to play. We did. I just think it was good win for us."
On the confidence of this team ... "I think they've been putting themselves in positions to do good things. They all have been responding to different and difficult situations thrown at them. They have been through so many stresses already this season that to see they continually come out on top is great. Actually, the girls haven't really shown any stress. That would be me. I get more stressed out than they do. There is no question about that."
Junior Kim Benedict
On the streak of four tournament wins ... "This is awesome. Like I have said over the past few weeks, it is just so much fun to be on this team right now, so much fun. We are so happy and on top of the world right now. We didn't let the hype and pressure get to us. I am very proud of us."
On the confidence level rising ... "I don't think over the last two years we've really been in this position. We have continually gotten more confident as each of those season went on. This season, it has been steady from the start. We've got so many people on this team that can play well and can make shots. Things have just come together."
Senior Cortney Reno
On the fourth tournament title ... "I don't know what to say. We've worked really, really hard and it is paying off. It was so close coming down to the end. We were waiting for Kim (Benedict) to come in and it was really tense, but when we found out we won by a shot we were so excited. I honestly do not know what to say."
On the success of the fall season and winning four straight ... "I've always envisioned in my mind that we could do something like this. I've just always known, but to do it is amazing. I've always known that we were good and getting better. It has just all come together and we've really been fortunate. We have learned to be patient, let the game come to us, recover from miscues and just, well, confident."
On her tournament ... "I played okay. I had two bad holes during the tournament on the first two days. I missed a lot of putts, but overall I did alright. This is a very tough course. You can't afford to make mistakes."
Freshman Laura Olin
On envisioning winning four straight tournaments ... "Four in a row. Wow. That's all I can say. Have I ever thought of us doing this Not really. I know this team had a ton of potential, but I never would have imagined this season going the way that it has."
On being a freshman on this team ... "I have been fortunate. There are so many players back home waiting for their chance. I have been just lucky to be part of this."
On her tournament ... "The first and second rounds I really didn't play well. This course is one that if you miss a shot you are almost assured a bogey. It is so tight and the pins were in tough places. But after the second round Sandy (Wagner, assistant coach) and I worked on my swing for about two hours. I hit balls all day just to get it right and the third round I just concentrated on putting the ball where I wanted it to go. I tried not to think too much and I played well."
N O T E S
For the first time in school history the Wolverines have won four consecutive tournament team titles -- Stetson's Hatter Fall Classic (Oct. 19-21), the Shootout at the Legends (Oct. 8-9), the Wolverine Invitational (Oct. 7-9) and the Lady Northern (Sept. 21-23).
The four titles this season resets the school record for most tournament titles in a season. The Wolverines have surpassed the mark of three tournament titles in a season, accomplished last season (2000-01) and during the 1995-96 season.
Dating back to the start of the 2001 spring season, the team victory at Stetson's Hatter Fall Classic gives the Maize and Blue seven team titles in its last 10 regular-season tournaments; seven in the last 12 total tournaments including postseason events.
The win at Stetson's Hatter Fall Classic gives the Wolverines their 16th team title since 1981, 11 of which have come under head coach Kathy Teichert's reign (1994-present).
The Wolverines have finished the fall season undefeated. They have won all four tournaments in which they participated and hold a 56-0 record against all opponents; 35-0 against Central Region opponents and 15-0 against Big Ten opponents.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
