Michigan
NCAA Central Regional
Schmucker Closes NCAA Central Regional Tied for 71st
5/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
BRYAN, Texas -- Senior Amy Schmucker (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori HS) closed her collegiate career by shooting a final round 78 today (Saturday, May 13) at the NCAA Central Regional at Texas A&M's Traditions Golf Club. Schmucker, who opened with rounds of 80 and 82, tied for 71st as an individual with a 240 54-hole regional total which was third among the invited individuals and not enough to advance her to the NCAA Finals.
Other invited individuals Illinois State's Samantha Richdale, who tied for 15th with a 226 total (71-76-79), and Kansas' Amanda Costner, who tied for 26th with a 229 total (78-76-75), also failed to advance to the NCAA Finals.
For her final round, Schmucker opened with a par on No. 10 before a bogey on No. 11 put her one-over early. Back-to-back bogeys on No. 14 and 15 push her to three-over, which was pushed even higher with another bogey on No. 17 as she made the turn at four-over. Opening up the front side, she posted a double-bogey on No. 1, but gained a stroke back after birding No. 2 for the second straight day. Following her birdie, she parred the next three holes before back-to-back bogeys on No. 6 and 7 put her seven over. She closed her career with a birdie on the par three, ninth hole giving her a final round 78 and a 240 regional total.
Overall at the Central Regional, Southern Cal used a final round two-under 286 to take the regional title with an 883 total. The Trojans posted rounds of 293 and 304 throughout the first 36-holes. Defending champions and No. 1 ranked Duke (294-300-291) were the runner-up just two strokes behind with an 885 total, while Pepperdine (303-304-296) was third at 903.
Individually, Southern Cal's Irene Cho used a final round three-under 69 to take medalist honors with a two-under 214 total. Cho opened with rounds of 71 and 74 en route to the regional title. Duke's Amanda Blumenherst was the runner-up at 218 (70-75-73), while Blue Devil teammate Elizabeth Janangelo (77-69-75) was third at 221.
With their top eight team finishes advancing to the NCAA Finals in Columbus, Ohio were: Southern Cal, Duke, Pepperdine, Florida, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Kent State and Nebraska. Texas teammates Devan Andersen (70-78-75/223) and Julia Best (76-76-73/225) both qualified for the NCAA Finals after their Longhorn team finished 11th.
With Schmucker not qualifying for the NCAA Championships, the Wolverines have ended the 2005-06 season.
Team Standings
(Top 8 teams advance to the NCAA Championships)
1. Southern California 293-304-286 = 883 2. Duke 294-300-291 = 885 3. Pepperdine 303-304-296 = 903 4. Florida 301-312-297 = 910 5. Oklahoma State 314-311-291 = 916 6. Texas A&M 318-306-295 = 919 Kent State 309-311-299 = 919 8. Nebraska 313-298-311 = 922 9. Michigan State 306-311-310 = 927 10. Northwestern 308-308-313 = 929 11. Texas 311-310-310 = 931 12. Southern Methodist 316-319-299 = 934 13. Tulsa 319-310-308 = 937 14. Baylor 318-310-310 = 938 15. Missouri 320-320-301 = 941 16. Ohio State 309-325-311 = 945 17. TCU 319-313-318 = 950 Birmingham-Southern 327-312-311 = 950 19. Jacksonville State 335-321-323 = 979 20. Jackson State 343-345-337 = 1025 21. St. Francis (Pa.) 355-361-351 = 1067
Top Individuals
1. Irene Cho, Southern California 71-74-69 = 214 (-2) 2. Amanda Blumenherst, Duke 70-75-73 = 218 3. Elizabeth Janangelo, Duke 77-69-75 = 221 4. Tara Delaney, Kent State 74-77-71 = 222 Jennifer Pandolfi, Duke 71-77-74 = 222 6. Devan Andersen, Texas 70-78-75 = 223 Catalina Marin, Southern California 77-73-73 = 223 Dewi Schreefel, Southern California 73-79-71 = 223 9. Leanne Bowditch, Pepperdine 75-72-77 = 224 Ashley Knoll, Texas A&M 74-73-77 = 224 Paola Moreno, Southern California 73-78-73 = 224 Eileen Vargas, Pepperdine 77-75-72 = 224
Michigan Individual Scores
T71. Amy Schmucker* 80-82-78 = 240 * playing as invited individual
Q U O T E S
Michigan coach Kathy Teichert
On the NCAA Regional for Amy Schmucker ... "Today, Amy just really didn't hit the ball that well. She putted better, but her overall game just wasn't on and hasn't been on for the last couple of days, which was unfortunate for her. It was too bad to have this tournament play out like it did for her. She is such an accomplished player for us and it was hard to see it end the way it ended. But it was great to see her finish with a birdie though. It was a nice positive and plus to her career ending. This was a difficult and demanding course to score on all tournament long. If you look across the entire scoreboard there are a lot of good teams not scoring that well. The greens were just so treacherous."
On Amy Schmucker's career at Michigan ... "This tournament is no way takes away anything that she has done this year. She has really had a great year. Amy is very well respected from her Big Ten peers and now nationally. They know when they play against her they know it is going to be a fight. That is the type of reputation she has developed C that she isn't going to let down and she keeps coming at you. That is the way she takes each shot. She never gives up and never really gets upset with herself. She stays calm and still thinks she can make a birdie on the next hole. She has been such a driving force for this program, she will definitely be missed."
Senior Amy Schmucker
On the NCAA Central Regional ... "When you have played with a team for so long and then you find yourself having to play alone, it takes a little getting used to. The first day, I wasn't thinking about saving strokes for the team, I focused on me and kind of went for it on a few holes and that cost me with some big numbers. Basically, the first day I ran into putter trouble and then the last two days I just didn't hit the ball that well. So, with all that, I was just trying to make pars, but making par on this golf course was a really good score. This was a tough course. But I was happy to be here and have the opportunity to play. What was really special was that I ended the tournament with a birdie. It is just really nice to wrap-up your college career with a birdie."
On her thoughts of her four-year career ... "For me, I really haven't had it hit me that my career is over. The four year shave just gone by so fast. You get used to the lifestyle, being with your teammates and going to practice. I know that I have finished buy it really hasn't sunk in yet. I still feel like I have to go to practice and check in with coach next week. So, I don't really know when it will sink in."
On the status of the Michigan program ... "We are really strong and in a good position as a program. The team obviously didn't meet its potential this year, but that doesn't mean there is a lack of talent on this team. With the girl's have good summers giving them confidence going into next season I think you can expect a lot of things from this program. Even with the recruits coming in, who look like really good players to me, I think this program is going to keep going up."
N O T E S
Amy Schmucker is making her second NCAA postseason tournament appearance of her career. Last season, she helped U-M compete as a team at the Central Regional at the Rawls Course in Lubbock, Texas.
By playing in the 2006 NCAA Central Regional, Amy Schmucker will close her Michigan career not missing a single tournament as she has played in 48 straight tournaments through her four years. She has started 47 of those 48 tournaments in her career. Former Wolverine Laura Olin holds the U-M record playing in 50 consecutive tournaments.
With her 240 NCAA Central Regional total, Amy Schmucker closed her 2005-06 season with a U-M single season record 75.03 scoring average. She finished with 2701 total strokes in 36 rounds as a senior to set the U-M mark which was set last season by Brianna Broderick, who finished with a 75.50 scoring average (2718 strokes, 36 rounds).
After Amy Schmucker received an invitation as an individual to the NCAA Central Regional, Michigan has been represented in regional competition by the team or an individual in five of the last six seasons, making team appearances in 2001, 2002 and 2005. Former All-Big Ten golfer Laura Olin played as an invited individual at the 2004 Central Regional. In 2002, the Wolverines finished sixth at the Central Regional in East Lansing, Mich., to advance to their first appearance at the NCAA Championships, where the Maize and Blue finished 17th.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
