Weekly Release #13
5/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Upcoming Schedule
Thu-Sat., May 10-12 -- at NCAA East Regional (Chapel, Hill, N.C.
Tue-Fri., May 22-25 -- at NCAA Championships (Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.)
Next on the Tee
The University of Michigan women's golf team will make its first-ever NCAA Regional trip as the Wolverines head to Chapel Hill, N.C., to compete in the East Regional at the Finley Golf Course Thursday through Saturday (May 10-12). The regional will have the course set up for a par of 72 and yardage of 6,211. The 54-hole tournament will consist of 18 holes each day starting at 7:30 a.m.
Helpful Web Links
NCAA Championships Site
North Carolina Women's Golf
Finley Golf Course
Regional Scoring
Team scores shall be determined by adding the low four scores of each team for each round. A team shall consist of no more than five players per institution.
The Regional Breakdown
There are three NCAA Regional locations -- the East in Chapel Hill, N.C.; the Central in West Lafayette, Ind.; and the West in Corvallis, Ore. Each region will have 21 teams and two individuals participating. The regional tournaments are considered the preliminary rounds of the NCAA Championship. A total of 321 participants were selected for the regional competition, and 126 will advance to the championships finals, with the top eight teams and top two individuals from non-qualifying teams from each regional advancing to the NCAA Championship Tuesday through Friday (May 22-25) at the Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
The Regions
East Regional [ North Carolina Site ]
The East Regional will be played May 10-12 and hosted by North Carolina at Finley Golf Course, Chapel Hill, N.C. Conference automatic qualifiers are indicated in parentheses next to the institution.
East Regional Teams
1. Duke (Atlantic Coast Conference)
2. Auburn
3. Georgia (Southeastern Conference)
4. TCU
5. Pepperdine
6. Vanderbilt
7. Wake Forest
8. New Mexico
9. South Florida
10. Northwestern
11. San Jose State
12. South Carolina
13. MICHIGAN
14. San Diego State
15. Florida State
16. North Carolina
17. Louisville
18. Campbell (Trans America Athletic Conference)
19. Kansas State
20. Jackson State (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
21. Charleston Southern (Big South Conference)
East Regional Individuals
1. Michelle Simpson, Florida International
2. Stephanie George, Radford
Central Regional [ Purdue Site ]
The Central Regional will be played May 10-12 at the Birk Boilermaker Golf Complex, West Lafayette, Ind., hosted by Purdue University. Central Regional Teams include: Texas, Tulsa (Western Athletic Conference), Oklahoma State (Big 12 Conference), New Mexico State (Sun Belt Conference), LSU, Oklahoma, Purdue, Alabama, Kent State (Mid-American Conference), California, Central Florida, Baylor, San Francisco, Florida, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Minnesota, Idaho, Oral Roberts (Mid-Continent Conference) and Princeton (Ivy Group). Selected to play as individuals were Wisconsin's Allie Blomquist and North Texas' Nina Reis.
West Regional [ Oregon State Site ]
The West Regional will be played May 10-12 at Trysting Tree Golf Course, Corvallis, Ore., hosted by Oregon State. West Regional Teams include: Arizona (Pacific-10 Conference), Southern Cal, Stanford, Tennessee, Ohio State, Arizona State, UCLA, Michigan State (Big Ten Conference), Washington, Furman (Southern Conference), Indiana, Oregon, Memphis (Conference USA), Missouri, Colorado State, Nevada, Oregon State, BYU, Central Connecticut State (Northeast Conference), Southwest Missouri State (Missouri Valley Conference) and Weber State (Big Sky Conference). Selected to play as individuals were Washington State's Tasha Browner and Portland State's Taya Battiestella.
The Michigan Lineup
The Wolverines will carry six players for the Michigan squad at East Regional, but only five will compete. Sophomore Kim Benedict (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS) and junior LeAnna Wicks (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) head up the five-member team, with junior Bess Bowers (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington North HS) rounding out the top three. Junior Cortney Reno (Grosse Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile HS), junior Misia Lemanski (Grosse Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile HS) and freshman Sarah Kruer (La Jolla, Calif./La Jolla Country Day) will fill up the rest of the roster for the trip to Chapel Hill.
Wolverines Finish Seventh at Big Ten Championships
The Wolverines shot 318 in the final round of the 2001 Big Ten Conference Championships (April 27-29) to finish seventh at Minnesota's Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn. The Wolverines finished with a 1,248 championship total after rounds of 309-303-318-318 in the 72-hole event. Bess Bowers finished with a career-best tie for eighth after a final round of 78 and a 307 total after carding rounds of 75, 76 and 78 during the first two days. Kim Benedict tied for 23rd after a final round of 82 and opening rounds of 76-74-82 for a 314 championship total. LeAnna Wicks finished just behind Benedict as she tied for 25th after carding a 78 in her final round (79-78-8-78/315). Misia Lemanski tied for 37th (79-80-79-83/321), Cortney Reno tied for 46th (79-85-81-80/325) and Sarah Kruer finished 51st (82-75-89-83/329).
Scoring Race Coming Down to the Wire
Four Wolverines are averaging below 80 strokes per round; in fact, two are below the 78-stroke barrier after the 12 tournaments. Kim Benedict narrowly leads the team with a 77.64 stroke average and LeAnna Wicks is right behind at 77.67. Both those averages are on school-record pace. Cortney Reno is third with a 78.13 average while Bess Bowers is fourth at 78.14. The amazing part of the low averages is that there have been only three golfers school history to hold below an 80 per round average -- Benedict, 79.24 in 1999-2000; Sharon Park (1996-99), 78.42 in 1997-98 and 79.14 in 1996-97; and Wendy Westfall (1994-97), 79.50 in 1996-97.
Wolverines Get Third Trophy of Year
The team victory at the Hawkeye Invitational (April 14-15) is the Wolverines' third title on the season, all in the spring. The Wolverines also tied for first at the Lady Aztec Invitational (Feb. 12-13) and won outright at the Hatter Spring Fling (March 17-18). Prior to the three wins this year, the Maize and Blue's last team tournament trophy was at the 1996 Purdue Invitational (April 13-14). The win at the Hawkeye Invitational also gives the Wolverines their 12th tournament team title since 1981, seven of which have come under coach Kathy Teichert's reign.
Wolverines and the Trophy
| Date | Tournament Titles |
| April 14-15, 2001 | Hawkeye Invitational |
| March 17-18, 2001 | Stetson's Hatter Spring Fling |
| Feb. 12-13, 2001 | Lady Aztec Invitational |
| April 13-14, 1996 | Purdue Invitational |
| March 24-25, 1996 | Saluki Invitational |
| Oct. 6-8, 1995 | Lady Kat Invitational |
| May 1-2, 1994 | Lady Eagle Invitational |
| Sept. 7-8, 1991 | Wolverine Invitational |
| Oct. 20, 1991 | Bowling Green Fall Invitational |
| Sept. 8-9, 1991 | Wolverine Invitational |
| Fall of 1986 | Notre Dame Invitational |
| Fall of 1981 | Wolverine Invitational |
More on the Victories Piling Up for Wolverines
The three victories in 2000-01 also tie the school mark for most tournament victories in a season. The Wolverines last did it during the 1995-96 season when they won Lady Kat Invitational (Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 1995); the Saluki Invitational (March 24-25, 1996) and the Purdue Invitational (April 13-14, 1996).
Third Time is a Charm
Kim Benedict garnered her first collegiate individual medalist honor at the Hawkeye Invitational (April 14-15) after winning the four-person playoff for the trophy. It was the third time this season Benedict was in a playoff for the individual medalist honor (Sept. 24 at Fossum Invitational; March 17-18 at Hatter Spring Fling). For her efforts, Benedict also was named the Big Ten's Golfer of the Week for the week ending April 16.
Reno Wins First Title
Cortney Reno opened the 2000-01 season by taking home the individual medalist honors at the Wolverine Invitational (Sept. 16-17), winning by three strokes after posting scores of 78-75-78 for a 231 total. The title was the first in the career of Reno and marked the first time since 1996 a Wolverine has raised a tournament trophy. Former Michigan star Sharon Park (1996-99) recorded the last Michigan individual title at the 1996 Lady Badger Invitational at Wisconsin (Sept. 28-29). Reno's win also made her the first Wolverine to take home the Wolverine Invitational title since Wendy Bigler won the 1991 tournament. (Note: there was no tournament from 1992-95.)
Wicks Continues to Light the Course
LeAnna Wicks continues to carve up her junior season. Her second-place finish at the Hawkeye Invitational (April 14-15) was a career best. Earlier this year, she set the mark with a tie for fourth at the Hatter Spring Fling (March 17-18). So far this season she tied a career best with a 72 in the final round at the Hatter Spring Fling (March 17-18) and in the second round of the Shootout of the Legends (Oct. 9-10). Her of 150 total at the Spring Fling was also a career-best mark, bettering her previous mark of 162 set last year at the Wolverine Invitational (Oct. 9-10, 1999), and she shattered her career-best tournament total with a 222 at Shootout at the Legends (Oct. 9-10, 2000), smashing the 232 she fired just one tournament earlier at the Lady Northern (Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2000). She has lowered her stroke average to 77.67, which is six strokes better than her previous best season average of 83.95 as a freshman.
Bowers Continues Longevity
Bess Bowers has not missed a tournament for the Wolverines in three years, as she has played in 34 straight. In those three years, Bowers has continued to get better as she has lowered her scoring average two strokes each season - 82.60 as a freshman, 80.51 as a sophomore and 78.13 as a junior. This year alone she has recorded her career best single round (72, first round, Hatter Spring Fling, March 17-18), her career best three round tournament total (224, Shootout at the Legends, Oct. 9-10) and she led the Wolverines at the Big Ten Conference Championships for the second straight season. She was the lone Wolverine to shoot all four rounds below 80 as she finished tied for eighth (75-76-78-78/307).
Consistency Continues
Misia Lemanski has continued to be a model of consistency as she has played in all 12 tournaments this year. She is fifth on the team with an 80.12 scoring average. She led the Wolverines at the Central District Classic (Oct. 23-24) after tying for eighth. But her season-best finish was a tie for fifth at the Lady Aztec Invitational (Feb. 12-13). In addition, she has also fired 15 rounds below 80 this season.
Kruer Makes Contributions as Newcomer
Sarah Kruer may be a freshman, but she has continued to improve as the year has moved along. Kruer made her collegiate debut at the Wolverine Invitational (Sept. 16-17) and has played in eight of the 12 tournaments this year. She carded a career-best round of 74 in the first round of the Hatter Spring Fling (March 17-18) en route to her career-best ninth place finish. She is sixth on the team with a 80.24 stroke average.
Total Destroys School Mark
The Wolverines' 889 total at the Women's Collegiate Shootout (Oct. 9-10) destroyed Michigan's best three-round tournament total mark by 15 strokes. Michigan's previous best was a 904 shot at the Lady Kat Invitational (Oct. 6-8, 1995), a mark U-M also surpassed with a 902 total at the Hawkeye Invitational (April 14-15).
Lowering the 54-Hole Standards
| 889 | Women's Collegiate Shootout | Oct. 9-10, 2000 |
| 902 | Hawkeye Invitational | April 14-15, 2001 |
| 904 | Lady Kat Invitational | Oct. 6-8, 1995 |
| 924 | Hawkeye Invitational | April 15-16, 2000 |
| 929 | Women's Collegiate Shootout | Oct. 11-12, 1999 |
| 932 | Lady Kat Invitational | Oct. 11-13, 1996 |
Yet Another Total Destroys School Mark
The Wolverines' 602 total at the Hatter Spring Fling (March 17-18) destroyed Michigan's best two-round tournament total mark by 18 strokes. Michigan's previous best was a 620 shot at the James Madison Invitational (Oct. 8-9, 1994).
Lowering the 36-Hole Standards
| 602 | Stetson's Hatter Spring Fling | March 17-18, 2001 |
| 620 | James Madison Invitational | Oct. 8-9, 1994 |
| 622 | Midwest Classic | Feb. 21-22, 1997 |
| 624 | Midwest Classic | Feb. 21-22, 1998 |
| 627 | Notre Dame Invitational | 1986-87 season |
| 630 | Boilermaker Invitational | April 12-13, 1997 |
Breaking the Barrier
With Michigan's first round of 299 at the Hawkeye Invitational, the Wolverines have struck below the 300-stroke barrier for the fourth time this season and sixth time in Michigan history. Earlier this season, the Wolverines fired a school-record 287 in the final round of the Shootout at the Legends (Oct. 10) and hit the 299 mark at the Shootout at the Legends (Oct. 9) and Hatter Spring Fling (March 17).
Lowering the Barrier
| 287 | third round, Shootout at the Legends | Oct. 9-10, 2000 |
| 299 | first round, Hawkeye Invitational | April 14-15, 2001 |
| 299 | first round, Hatter Spring Fling | March 17-18, 2001 |
| 299 | second round, Shootout at the Legends | Oct. 9-10, 2000 |
| 299 | fourth round, 2000 Big Ten Championships | April 28-30, 2000 |
| 299 | first round, Hawkeye Invitational | April 15-16, 2000 |
| 300 | third round, Lady Northern | Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2000 |
| 300 | second round, Lady Kat Invitational | Oct. 6-8, 1995 |
| 300 | third round, Lady Kat Invitational | Oct. 6-8, 1995 |
The Leaders and Best
So far, five different Wolverines have led the Maize and Blue in the 12 tournaments this year. The latest is Bess Bowers, who tied eighth at the 2001 Big Ten Conference Championships.
Leaders and Best
| Kim Benedict | 2nd* | Fossum Invitational | Sept. 23-24, 2000 |
| | t-12th | Shootout at the Legends | Oct. 9-10, 2000 |
| | 2nd* | Hatter Spring Fling | March 17-18, 2001 |
| | t-19th | San Antonio Shootout | March 25-26, 2001 |
| | 1st@ | Hawkeye Invitational | April 14-15, 2001 |
| Cortney Reno | 1st | Wolverine Invitational | Sept. 16-17, 2000 |
| | t-2nd | Lady Aztec Invitational | Feb. 12-13, 2001 |
| | t-19th | San Antonio Shootout | March 25-26, 2001 |
| LeAnna Wicks | t-18th | Midwest Classic | Feb. 23-25, 2001 |
| | t-18th | Indiana Invitational | April 7-8, 2001 |
| Bess Bowers | t-10th | Lady Northern | Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2000 |
| | t-8th | Big Ten Championships | April 27-29, 2001 |
| Misia Lemanski | t-8th | Central District Classic | Oct. 23-24, 2000 |
*lost in playoff for first place @ won in four-player playoff | |||
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
