Michigan
Mountain View Challenge
Freshmen Duo Leads U-M at Mountain View Challenge
3/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Paced by career-best performances from freshmen Ashley Bauer (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) and Andrea Ratigan (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HS), the University of Michigan women's golf team posted a season-best 54-hole tournament total of 882 to finish eighth Sunday (March 25) at the Mountain View Challenge.
Follwing rain throughout the practice round, course conditions at the Mountain View Golf Club were wet throughout the first 36 holes. With theclean and lift rule in effect for the first two rounds, the Wolverines opened with a 298 first round tally. With the sun coming out and drying out the course, the Maize and Blue responded in the second round with a 293 second-round post to put them in 10th after the first day.
Sunny weather and ideal scoring conditions were on hand for the final round, and U-M responded by posting its season-low round of 291 in the final 18 holes to lift the Wolverines to eighth with an 882 total. The total marked the first time the Wolverines have posted three straight sub-300 rounds in three years. It also is the first sub-900 tournament total in just over a year.
Guiding the Wolverines throughout the weekend was Bauer, who closed the tournament with her first career top-five finish, firing a career-best four-under 212 54-hole tournament total to better her previous best performance by 14 strokes. She got her tournament off to a strong start, posting a career-best two-under 70. Bauer followed that with her second straight sub-par round -- a one-under 71 -- to sit in a tie for fourth with a 141 total after the first day of play. With five birdies in the final round, she tallied her third straight sub-par round with a one-under 71 to close the event in fifth place individually.
Fellow-freshman Ratigan followed Bauer's lead, closing in a tie for 32nd individually with a career-best 222 54-hole tournament total. After opening with a 76 in the first round, she roared back in the second round to fire a career-best one-under 71. She closed with a 75, helping her to a career-best tournament total.
Other Wolverine finishes include: senior Brianna Broderick (Richmond, Mo./Richmond HS), tied for 47th with a 224 total (75-76-73), senior Ali Stinson (Penticton, British Columbia/Penticton Secondary), tie for 55th with a 226 total (79-75-72) and sophomore Lydia Bentez Coln (Dorado, Puerto Rico/Pendleton School), who earned her first start of the season, tie for 85th with a 236 total (77-78-81).
After building a commanding 10-stroke lead after 36-holes, Nebraska struggled in the final round but managed to hold on for a four-shot win with an 866 total (287-285-294). Northwestern made a strong comeback attempt to finish runner-up with an 870 total (294-288-288). Indiana was third with an 873 total (297-287-289).
The Hoosiers' Elaine Harris was able to hold onto her first day lead to take home medalist honors with a seven-under 209 total (70-69-70). Northwestern's Liliana Alvarez (72-68-71), Denver's Katie Kempter (71-70-70) and Oklahoma's Kandall Dye (71-68-72) all tied for the runner-up spot with five-under 211s.
The Wolverines have one regular season tournament remaining on the schedule before postseason play begins. The Maize and Blue will close the tournament season with a trip to Carmel, Ind., Monday and Tuesday, April 9-10, for the Indiana Invitational. The 54-hole tournament will be played at the prestigious Crooked Stick Golf Course.
Team Standings
1. Nebraska 287-285-294 = 866 (+2) 2. Northwestern 294-288-288 = 870 3. Indiana 297-287-289 = 873 4. Missouri 297-293-284 = 874 Kansas 297-291-286 = 874 6. Baylor 292-291-293 = 876 Denver 295-295-286 = 876 8. MICHIGAN 298-293-291 = 882 9. Iowa State 291-294-298 = 883 10. Kansas State 300-289-295 = 884 11. Colorado 295-299-296 = 890 12. Texas Tech 304-293-296 = 893 13. Oklahoma 298-294-302 = 894 14. College of Charleston 296-298-304 = 898 15. Northern Arizona 298-305-298 = 901 16. Wisconsin 295-300-307 = 902
Top Individuals
1. Elaine Harris, Indiana 70-69-70 = 209 (-7) 2. Liliana Alvarez, Northwestern 72-68-71 = 211 Katie Kempter, Denver 71-70-70 = 211 Kendall Dye, Oklahoma 71-68-72 = 211* 5. ASHLEY BAUER, U-M 70-71-71 = 212 6. Elli Brown, Nebraska 72-71-70 = 213 7. Julie Kim, Colorado 72-72-71 = 215 Emily Powers, Kansas 74-72-69 = 215 Julia Potter, Missouri 73-72-70 = 215 10. Michelle Regan Kansas State 73-73-71 = 217 Karly Pinder, Iowa State 73-72-72 = 217 Kate White, Nebraska 69-73-75 = 217 Allison Martin, Baylor 69-72-76 = 217 * played as individual
Other Michigan Individuals
T32. Andrea Ratigan 76-71-75 = 222 T47. Brianna Broderick 75-76-73 = 224 T55. Ali Stinson 79-75-72 = 226 T85. Lydia Benitez Colon 77-78-81 = 236
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
