Michigan
UC Irvine Anteater Invitational
U-M Continues Solid Play, Places Third at Anteater Invite
3/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
COTO DE CAZA, Calif. -- Despite continuing to play solidly in the final round, the University of Michigan women's golf team carded a 313 final round total today (Tuesday, March 11) to stay in third place at the UC Irvine Anteater Invitational at Coto de Caza Country Club. The Wolverines tallied a 929 54-hole total after carding team totals of 314 and 302 on the first day of play. Michigan was just four strokes off winner and host UC Irvine, which tallied a 925 total (313-302-310). Cal State-Northridge was second at 927 (308-311-308).
| | Benedict put up her lowest round of the season with a 70 during the middle 18 holes. |
Freshman Amy Schmucker (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori HS) got back on track as well as she finished 13th with a 233 total. After a few miscues in the first round, in which she carded an 80, she came back in the second round with a three-over 75. She then fired a six-over 78 in the final round to help her to third best collegiate 54-hole tournament total.
Fifth-year senior Stephanie Stasik (Lubbock, Texas/Coronado HS) tied for 21st with her 238 total after rounds of 76-80-82; sophomore Laura Olin (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS) tied for 29th with a 245 total with round scores of 81, 88 and a four-over 76; and junior/sophomore Courtney Goebel (Huntington Beach, Calif./Marina HS) tied for 32nd with a 246 total after firing rounds of 84, a season-low tying 77 and 85. Freshman Kelly Easton (Port Huron, Mich./Northern HS) competed as an individual and tied for 50th (85-84-84/253) in just her second collegiate tournament for the Wolverines.
Cal State-Northridge's Elizabeth Allen took home medalist honors, playing even-par golf for a 216 total (71-72-73). UC Irvine's Stella Lee was the medalist runner-up (74-76-70/220) and Texas Tech's Megan Hull (74-73-76/223) and Iowa State's Leanne Owens (76-73-74/223) tied for third.
The Wolverines will be off for about two weeks before they travel to Austin, Texas, to participate in the Betsy Rawls/Longhorn Invitational, Monday through Wednesday, March 24-25, at the Hills of Lakeway. The 54-hole tournament will feature some of the top teams from the Midwest and South districts.
Team Standings
1. UC-Irvine 313-302-310 = 925 (+61) 2. Cal State-Northridge 308-311-308 = 927 3. MICHIGAN 314-302-313 = 929 4. Texas Tech 306-308-316 = 930 5. Iowa State 325-309-304 = 938 6. Denver 307-315-326 = 948 7. Boise State 318-324-319 = 961 8. Kansas 322-330-314 = 966 9. UC-Riverside 327-313-335 = 975 10. Eastern Michigan 326-323-328 = 977 11. Austin Peay State 341-324-335 = 1000 12. Cal Poly-SLO 326-347-331 = 1004 13. Cal State-San Marcos 339-338-354 = 1031
Top Individuals
1. Elizabeth Allen, CSUN 71-72-73 = 216 (E) 2. Stella Lee, UC-Irvine 74-76-70 = 220 3. Megan Hull, Texas Tech 74-73-76 = 223 Leanne Owens, Iowa State 76-73-74 = 223 5. KIM BENEDICT, U-M 77-70-77 = 224 Angela Won, UC-Irvine 77-73-74 = 224 7. Emma Wahlgren, CSUN 79-75-74 = 228 8. Laura Wells, Iowa State 79-75-75 = 229 Kelly Schaub, Denver 77-76-76 = 229 10. Ashley Hogg, Boise State 78-76-77 = 231 Shelly Raworth, UC-Irvine 75-75-81 = 231 12. Alexis Arnold, CSUN 78-80-74 = 232 13. AMY SCHMUCKER, U-M 80-75-78 = 233
Other Michigan Individuals
T21. Stephanie Stasik 76-80-82 = 238 T29. Laura Olin 81-88-76 = 245 T32. Courtney Goebel 84-77-85 = 246 T50. Kelly Easton* 85-84-84 = 253 * played as an individual
N O T E S
The Wolverines' third-place finish is the second best on the season and third top-five finish of the 2002-03. Michigan finished second in the first tournament of the season, the Wolverine Invitational (Sept. 14-15). The Maize and Blue's other top-five finish was a fourth-place showing at the Lady Northern Invitational (Sept. 28-29).
Kim Benedict's second-round, two-under 70 is her season-best round by two strokes. She topped the even-par 72 she had in the second round last tournament at the Central District Invitational (Feb. 24-25). The round is also her sixth career round under par.
Benedict's tournament-low, two-under 70 in the second round was one of just four rounds fired under par. Kansas' Heather Rose (first round) and UC Irvine's Stella Lee (third round) also recorded 70s, while Cal State-Northridge's Elizabeth Allen recorded a first-round 71.
Benedict's 224 54-hole total is her second best total of the season, just a single stroke off her season-best 223 carded at the Lady Northern Invitational (Sept. 28-29), where ironically she also finished fifth to lead the Wolverines.
Amy Schmucker's 233 54-hole total is her second best total of the season. She had a career-best 229 total in her first collegiate tournament played, the Wolverine Invitational (Sept. 14-15).
Courtney Goebel's second-round, five-over 77 tied her season-best score, and it marked the second time in her career she has fired a round below the 80-stroke barrier. She also shot 77 in the second round of the Wolverine Invitational (Sept. 14-15).
Kelly Easton competed in just her second career tournament, while Kim Benedict, Laura Olin, Amy Schmucker and Stephanie Stasik have played in all eight tournaments this season.
Benedict extended her consecutive tournament streak to 45, as she has not missed a single tournament in her four-year career. Laura Olin extended her streak to 20 straight tournaments for the Wolverines.
Michigan added the Anteater Invitational to its schedule after the final round of the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge (Feb. 10-12) was rained out.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Kathy Teichert
On the tournament ... "We put ourselves in a great position after the first day, being just two strokes out of first and one out of second. We had our destiny in front of us and that feels pretty good ... we needed to do this. Unfortunately, we didn't come out ahead on this one. I really thought the way we were playing we would have a shot at it, but it just wasn't meant to be. I think it was good that we felt we were in a good position, that we acted like we were and anytime we can put ourselves in as good as a position as we were in today it is going to give us a ton of confidence going into our next event and the next event and the next event. So, I am happy about that."
On the benefits of adding this extra tournament to the schedule ... "No question about it. This was a great opportunity for us and we took advantage of it. Coming off of spring break we played for 10 days and without this tournament we would have had about three weeks to a month off before our next event so this actually worked out to be great for us. We were very fortunate to be able to do it. It just helps in seeing how everyone is really doing for us and getting another chance to get some tournament experience."
Senior Kim Benedict
On the tournament ... "I thought we played well, especially yesterday, our second round was really good. We didn't play as well as we probably could have today, but I think that is good that we put ourselves into a position to win. I thought we had a descent showing here. I think if we keep putting ourselves into a position to win I think we are going to come through in the end."
On her tournament performance ... "The difference for me was that I have been working really hard on my swing over the winter, trying to get it to be consistent like I know it can be. I think I am finally seeing results. I also got a new putter in my bag -- a two-ball putter -- and I really like it. Just like I said with the team, the more I put myself into a position to finish well and the more pressure put on myself to perform, the better I will be in the future."
On getting some more experience by adding this tournament ... "I think the biggest thing that getting this extra tournament gives us confidence. I think we were a little shaky over spring break and we all know the California tournament wasn't good so this puts a lot of confidence under our belt. It also is just another opportunity to see grass, which isn't a bad thing from where we come from."
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
