Michigan
Mercedes-Benz Collegiate
Wolverines Tie for 12th at Mercedes-Benz Championship
10/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The University of Michigan women's golf team tallied a 310 final-round team total to maintain its hold on 12th place today (Sunday, Oct. 20) at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship at Gettysvue Country Club. The Maize and Blue tied Penn State for the 12th position as both the Wolverines and Nittany Lions finished with 943 totals in the three-day, 54-hole event.
| | Olin's one-under 71 in the second round is U-M's first sub-par score this season. |
For the fourth time in the five fall season tournaments, sophomore Laura Olin (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS) led the Maize and Blue as she collected her fifth top-20 finish on the year, tying for 18th with a 230 total. After opening the tournament with an 82, Olin carded a season-best, one-under-par 71 in the second round -- one of four rounds under par on Saturday -- then closed with 77.
Senior Kim Benedict (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS) tied for 40th with a 237 total. She opened with an 83, matched her season best with a two-over 74 in the second round, and closed with an 80. Freshman Amy Schmucker (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori HS) improved as the tournament went on as she tied for 48th with a 239 total (85-79-75).
Playing in her first collegiate tournament, freshman Kelly Easton (Port Huron, Mich./Northern HS) tied for 62nd after rounds of 81, 80 and 82 for a 243 total. Fifth-year senior Stephanie Stasik (Lubbock, Texas/Coronado HS) tied for 65th after rounds of 83, 84 and 78 for a 245 total.
Sitting in fourth place after the second round, Auburn vaulted itself three positions to take the team title by seven strokes as the Tigers finished with a 899 team total after rounds of 303, 304 and 292. The Swedish Junior National team was the runner up with a 906 total (300-303-303) and Florida was third at 911 (313-290-308).
North Carolina's Ashley Prange held off a late charge from Purdue's Kari Damron as Prange led from start to finish to win medalist honors with a two-over 218 total (72-70-76). Damron finished just a stroke behind at 219 (74-74-71) while Florida's Amanda Dick (73-70-77/220) and Sweden's Louise Stahle (74-75-71/220) tied for third.
The Wolverines have now completed their fall season. The Maize and Blue will not return to action until the spring season begins in mid-February when the Wolverines head to the prestigious TRW Regional Challenge (Feb. 10-12) at Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palo Verdes, Calif.
Team Standings
1. Auburn 303-304-292 = 899 2. Swedish Jr. National 300-303-303 = 906 3. Florida 313-290-308 = 911 4. North Carolina 314-297-301 = 912 5. Purdue 304-309-306 = 919 6. UNLV 306-299-319 = 924 7. Northwestern 308-307-310 = 925 8. Michigan State 304-313-313 = 930 9. Furman 317-306-309 = 932 10. Tennessee 319-308-308 = 935 11. Kentucky 314-312-311 = 937 12. MICHIGAN 329-304-310 = 943 Penn State 323-317-303 = 943 14. Alabama 326-331-324 = 981 Louisiana State 327-326-328 = 981
Top Individuals
1. Ashley Prange, North Carolina 72-70-76 = 218 2. Kari Damron, Purdue 74-74-71 = 219 3. Amanda Dick, Florida 73-70-77 = 220 Louise Stahle, Sweden 74-75-71 = 220 5. Maria Martinez, Auburn 74-73-74 = 221 Sunny Oh, UNLV 74-73-74 = 221 7. Josefine Skold, Sweden 73-73-76 = 222 Celeste Troche, Auburn 76-76-70 = 222 9. Danielle Downey, Auburn 75-76-73 = 224 Katie Futcher, Penn State 75-74-75 = 224
Michigan Individual Scores
T18. Laura Olin 82-71-77 = 230 T40. Kim Benedict 83-74-80 = 237 T48. Amy Schmucker 85-79-75 = 239 T62. Kelly Easton 81-80-82 = 243 T65. Stephanie Stasik 83-84-78 = 245
N O T E S
Sophomore Laura Olin, who has played in 18 consecutive tournaments, was one of just four individuals in the 78-player field to break par in the second round. Her one-under 71 -- the first sub-par score by a Wolverine this year -- is a season-best performance, bettering the 72 she fired in the final round of Women's Collegiate Shootout (Oct. 7-8).
Senior Kim Benedict, who has played in 42 consecutive tournaments, fired a one-over-par 73 in the second round to tie her season-best score. She also shot 73 in the first round of the Women's Collegiate Shootout (Oct. 7-8).
Freshman Kelly Easton played in her first collegiate tournament and tied for 65th. She led Michigan on the first day with an 81.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
