Weekly Release #11
4/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Upcoming Schedule
Sat-Sun., April 12-13 -- at Lady Boilermaker Invitational (West Lafayette, Ind.)
Fri-Sun., April 25-27 -- at Big Ten Championships (Iowa City, Iowa)
Next on the Tee: The Lady Boilermaker Invitational
The University of Michigan women's golf team will stay in Big Ten country when the Wolverines close out the regular season with a trip to the Kampen Course at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, Saturday and Sunday (April 12-13) in West Lafayette, Ind., for the Lady Boilermaker Invitational. The Wolverines will be looking to tune up one final time against conference opponents as eight of the 11 Big Ten teams will be at the 54-hole tournament, which will have 36 holes on Saturday and a final 18 on Sunday. Kampen, which is the site of the 2003 NCAA Championships, will be set up for a par of 72 and 5,900 yards.
The Lady Boilermaker Invitational Field
The Lady Boilermaker Invitational features 13 teams: Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kent State, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, N.C. State, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
The Lady Boilermaker Invitational Schedule
The Lady Boilermaker Invitational will consist of 54 holes, 36 holes being played Saturday (April 12) and finishing with a final 18 Sunday (April 13).
| Friday, April 11 | Practice Round | Tee times throughout the day |
| Saturday, April 12 | First Round | 8:00 a.m. (shotgun start) |
| | Second Round | Noon (shotgun start) |
| Sunday, April 13 | Final Round | 8:00 a.m. (shotgun start) |
The Lady Boilermaker Invitational Scoring Format
Scoring for the Lady Boilermaker Invitational will be six players, count the low four scores each round.
The Michigan Lineup at the Lady Boilermaker Invitational
The Wolverines will carry six players for the Michigan squad at the Lady Boilermaker Invitational. Senior Kim Benedict (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS), sophomore Laura Olin (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS) and freshman Amy Schmucker (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori HS) will head up the list. The remaining three spots will be determined during the weekly qualifier. Fifth-year senior Stephanie Stasik (Lubbock, Texas/Coronado HS), junior/sophomore Courtney Goebel (Huntington Beach, Calif./Marina HS), junior Sarah Kruer (La Jolla, Calif./La Jolla Country Day), freshman Brandi Zielinski (Sylvania, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) and freshman Kelly Easton (Port Huron, Mich./Northern HS) all are battling for the remaining spots.
Last Time at the Lady Boilermaker Invitational: U-M Just Misses 1997 Titles
The Wolverines make their return to Lady Boilermaker Invitational for the first time since the 1997 tournament, which was played at Purdue's South Course in West Lafayette, Ind. In the 1997 tournament, the Maize and Blue failed to defend its 1996 crown as host Purdue came back in the final round to win by four strokes. The tournament was reduced to 36 holes after inclement weather cancelled play of the second round. Michigan's Wendy Westfall (1994-97) tied for second (77-79/156), Molly Vandenbark (1994-95, 97) tied for eighth (73-85/158), Sharon Park (1996-99) was 10th (78-81/159), Ashley Williams (1994-97) tied for 14th (78-84/162), Nicole Green (1995, '97) tied for 19th (84-80/164) and Jodi Smith (1997) tied for 43rd (84-91/175).
Last Time on the Links: Benedict Masters IU Golf Course to Win Indiana Invitational
Kim Benedict won her third career collegiate tournament title at the Indiana Invitational Saturday and Sunday (April 5-6) at the IU Golf Course in Bloomington, Ind.. The Wolverines finished sixth as a team with a 948 (322-313-313) total. Benedict opened the tournament by firing a two-under 72, which was the lowest round of the tournament, in windy and freezing conditions. Starting the day on hole No. 5, she finished her first seven holes at four over par, but then she caught fire as she birdied seven of her next eight holes, including five straight. In the second round, Benedict continued to master the Hoosier course, carding an even-par round of 74 which included five more birdies. With weather conditions producing higher winds than the first day, Benedict had a final round of two-over 76 to help her maintain her lead throughout the tournament and win by a single stroke with a season-best 222 total. Laura Olin tied for 18th (84-76-77/237), Amy Schmucker tied for 33rd (84-84-77/245), Stephanie Stasik tied for 38th (82-82-83/247), Courtney Goebel and Kelly Easton tied for 56th with 254 tournament totals. Easton finished with rounds of 86, 81 and 87, while Goebel had rounds of 84, 86 and 84.
Benedict Adds Another Trophy
Kim Benedict's medalist honor at the Indiana Invitational (April 5-6) is the third of her career and second in the state of Indiana. She won the 2001 Hawkeye Invitational (April 14-15, 2001) in Iowa City, Iowa, and the 2001 Shootout at the Legends (Oct. 8-9, 2001) in Franklin, Ind. She has five career medalist runner-up finishes.
More From Benedict at the Indiana Invitational
Kim Benedict had a season-best 54-hole total with a 222 tally at the Indiana Invitational. The total bettered her 223 total she had at the Lady Northern Invitational (Sept. 28-29). She led the Invitational with 13 total birdies. She was also first in par-3 scoring at even par, second in par-4 scoring at plus-three and third in par-5 scoring at three under par.
Michigan's New One-Two Punch Heating Up
Kim Benedict and Laura Olin were part of a three-way punch last season, along with former Wolverine Misia Lemanski (1999-2002), and this year Benedict and Olin have become a one-two punch for the Maize and Blue. In 10 tournaments this season, either Olin (six) or Benedict (four) has been the Wolverines' top finisher. Benedict has reclaimed the team lead in scoring average by just .66, as she is averaging 77.06 to Olin's 77.72. Both are averaging almost two full strokes ahead of the next closest Wolverine, freshman Amy Schmucker (79.45).
More on the Duo
Kim Benedict played in her 47th consecutive tournament for the Wolverines at the Indiana Invitational (April 5-6). This season, she has recorded four top-10 finishes -- first at the Indiana Invitational, fifth at the Lady Northern (Sept. 28-29), tied for fifth at the Anteater Invitational (March 10-11) and tied for eighth at the Wolverine Invitational (Sept. 14-15). She had a season-best 222 total at the Indiana Invitational. Laura Olin extended her streak to 23 straight tournaments for the Wolverines. She has two top-10 finishes this season, tying for fourth at the Wolverine Invitational and tying for ninth at the Women's Collegiate Shootout (Oct. 7-8).
Coming On Strong
The Wolverines are averaging 317.2 as a team during the first round of tournaments this season. But they dramatically improve in the second and third rounds, as they are averaging 309.7 as a team in the second round and 311.3 in the third round. For 54-hole tournaments this season they have been averaging 932.8 with a 312.79 per round average.
Getting Ready to Make Their Move
The Wolverines' third-place finish at the UC Irvine Anteater Invitational (March 10-11) was the second best showing 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).
Lineup Says Cohesive
Michigan has four players who have seen action in all 10 tournaments this season -- Kim Benedict, Laura Olin, Amy Schmucker and Stephanie Stasik.
Schmucker Making Most of First Season
Amy Schmucker has made the most of her first 10 collegiate tournaments, as she is third on the team with a 79.45 scoring average. In the history of the program, only two freshmen have averaged below 80 strokes per round in their first season -- current teammates Laura Olin (76.94; 2001-02) and Kim Benedict (79.24; 1999-2000). Schmucker had a career-best 229 total in her first collegiate tournament at the Wolverine Invitational (Sept. 14-15), where she posted her career-best finish with a tie for fourth. She recorded a career-best single-round score of 74 in the final round of the Women's Collegiate Shootout (Oct. 7-8).
Stasik Continues to Strike
Stephanie Stasik has played in all 10 tournaments this season and is fifth on the team in scoring average with an 80.93 per round mark. She had a season-best tie for 15th at the Wolverine Invitational and had a season-best 54-hole tournament score of 233 at the Fossum Invitational (Sept. 21-22). She has had 10 of her 29 rounds below the 80-stroke barrier, with a season-best 74 in the second round of the Women's Collegiate Shootout.
Goebel Ties Season-Best Mark in Home State
Courtney Goebel's second-round, five-over 77 at the UC Irvine Anteater Invitational (March 10-11) 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). She has competed in seven tournaments this season and is averaging 82.90 per round.
Easton Gaining Experience
Kelly Easton played in her third career tournament at the Indiana Invitational (April 5-6). She tied for 56th with a 254 total after rounds of 86, 81 and 87. This season she has also competed at the Mercedes Benz Collegiate (Oct. 18-20) and the UC Irvine Anteater Invitational (March 10-11). She is averaging 83.33 per round.
Coming Up: Big Ten Championships
After the completion of the Lady Boilermaker, the Wolverines will have two weeks to prepare for the 2003 Big Ten Championships. Hosted by Iowa, the conference tournament will be held at the Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City, Iowa, Friday through Sunday (April 25-27). The 72-hole championship will consist of 36 holes on Friday (April 25), 18 holes Saturday (April 26) and a final 18 Sunday (April 27). Last year, the Wolverines posted their best finish ever in the conference championships with a third place showing. The Maize and Blue's 1,236 four-round team total ranked as the second best in Wolverine history. Former Wolverine LeAnna Wicks' (1999-2002) had a runner-up finish, giving her the highest Wolverine finish ever. Wicks' 305 total also tied her for the second best individual total for Michigan.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
