Michigan
Lady Northern Invitational
Bauer Posts Second Straight Top 20 at Lady Northern
9/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Site: State College, Pa.
Course: Penn State Blue Course (par 72, 6,300 yards)
Tournament: Lady Northern Invitational
U-M Finish: 11th Place of 14 Teams (313-313-306/932)
Top U-M Individual: Ashley Bauer, tie-14th (79-74-74/227)
Next U-M Event: Sat-Sun., Sep. 29-30 -- host Wolverine Invitational (U-M Golf Course)
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The University of Michigan women's golf team posted a final team round total of 306 to move up one position and close 11th at the Lady Northern Invitational Sunday (Sept. 23) at Penn State's University Blue Course. The Maize and Blue opened with back-to-back 313 team tallies, putting them in 12th after the first 36 holes of play. The final round 306 pushed Michigan past host Penn State (314-310-309/933) to finish 11th.
The Wolverines sophomore duo of Ashley Bauer (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) and Andrea Ratigan (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino) led the charge for U-M. Bauer posted her second straight top 20 performance, tying for 14th with a 227 tournament total, while Ratigan tied for 42nd with a 235 total.
After opening the tournament with six bogeys in her first nine holes, Bauer turned her game around, playing five-over par during the next 45 holes of the tournament, including four birdies. Bauer closed the first round with a 79 before she tallied back-to-back rounds of 74 to lead the Wolverines for the second straight tournament. Ratigan descended each of her three rounds during the weekend. After opening with an 80, she posted a 79 in the second round before she closed with a 76 in the final round.
Senior co-captain Lindsay Davis (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) and junior co-captain Lydia Bentez Coln (Dorado, P.R./Pendleton School) each posted top-50 finishes. Davis tied for 46th with a 236 total (76-80-80), while Bentez Coln tied for 51st with a 237 total (80-80-77). Other Wolverine finishes included freshman Min Yean Tan (Queensland, Australia/Hills International College), who closed 54th with a 238 total (78-81-79), and freshman Katelin Davis (Dexter, Mich./Dexter), who made her collegiate debut and tied for 80th with a 252 total (80-86-86).
After holding a one-shot lead after 36-holes, Kent State (287-298-293) was able to hold on and take the team title at the Lady Northern with a 878 54-hole total. The Golden Flashes held off the charge of Michigan State (290-296-297), which closed just five strokes behind at 883. Indiana finished third overall with a 900 total (295-307-298).
Individually, Kent State's Kira Meixner opened with a six-under 66 and back-to-back rounds of 73 to give her a 212 tournament total and a three shot victory, as the Golden Flashes brought home both tournament trophies. Michigan State's Laura Kueny was the medalist runner-up at 215 (75-69-71), while Eastern Michigan's Catherine Fortin was third at 218 (71-73-74).
The Wolverines have a week to prepare for their next tournament, as they host the Wolverine Invitational Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 29-30) on the U-M Golf Course. The 54-hole tournament will feature 10 teams competing at Michigan's home course. Last year, the Maize and Blue won its fourth Wolverine Invitational team title in the last five years.
Team Standings
1. Kent State 287-298-293 = 878 2. Michigan State 290-296-297 = 883 3. Indiana 295-307-298 = 900 4. Ohio State 303-307-295 = 905 5. Northwestern 307-299-303 = 909 6. Rollins College 301-310-306 = 917 7. Wisconsin 316-306-302 = 924 Eastern Michigan 305-316-303 = 924 9. Illinois 316-308-305 = 929 Iowa 317-308-304 = 929 11. MICHIGAN 313-313-306 = 932 12. Penn State 314-310-309 = 933 13. Toledo 316-311-316 = 943 14. Minnesota 316-313-317 = 946
Top Individuals
1. Kira Meixner, Kent State 66-73-73 = 212 2. Laura Kueny, Michigan State 75-69-71 = 215 3. Catherine Fortin, Eastern Michigan 71-73-74 = 218 4. Jennifer Hong, Northwestern 73-74-72 = 219 Tyrette Metzendorf, Iowa 76-75-68 = 219 6. Elaine Harris, Indiana 72-76-73 = 221 7. Aimee Neff, Michigan State 70-76-76 = 222 8. Gemma Webster, Ohio State 72-76-75 = 223 9. Tara Delaney, Kent State 76-76-72 = 224 Kirby Dreher, Kent State 78-73-73 = 224 Martina Gavier, Kent State 69-80-75 = 224
Michigan Individual Scores
T14. Ashley Bauer 79-74-74 = 227 T42. Andrea Ratigan 80-79-76 = 235 T46. Lindsay Davis 76-80-80 = 236 T51. Lydia Benitez Colon 80-80-77 = 237 54. Min Yean Tan 78-81-79 = 238 T80. Katelin Davis 80-86-86 = 252
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Kathy Teichert
On the Lady Northern Invitational ... "I am disappointed. It was a very disappointing tournament. Obviously we didn't get the results we wanted to get this weekend. We made a lot of errors out there. We had to count a lot of 80s this weekend and we just cannot do that if we want to be successful. We did come back today, but if you look at our overall scores this tournament to have a pair of uncharacteristic 313s it really puts you behind early. We just could not make any up and downs, we had poor course management and we struggled on par fives again. We were even a little fatigued out there on the first day and we just simply cannot have that. So, it was a tough tournament for us. We are going to have to rebound and respond at our home course next weekend."
On the play of Ashley Bauer ... "She once again played well for us. She started off a little slow, but she really came back after her 79. She's doing well, but right now we are not able to back up her good play. I am just really proud of the way she has responded after some adversity of the course. She is really maturing out there."
Sophomore Ashley Bauer
On her tournament play this weekend ..."The last two tournaments I have gotten off to slow starts. I had five bogeys in a row to start this tournament. I just really couldn't get off the bogey train; I was putting a lot of pressure on myself. On the turn I just told myself that a 42 was going to cut it and I just started to relax and play golf. My second 18 I hit the ball extremely well, but I just couldn't make any putts. Today, I putted better, but I just left a lot of shots out there that I know I could have capitalized on. That stuff happens. I am pleased with how I played."
On where the Wolverines go from here ... "This weekend is disappointing because we have been working so hard. It was surprising and disappointing to see where we finished. We have our home tournament next weekend so it will be a good chance for us to rebound in a positive way and come back from this. We have some things to work on so I know this week the practices are going to be really focused on what we need to do to get better."
N O T E S
Ashley Bauer started her 14th straight tournament for the Wolverines. She has yet to miss a start for U-M during her career. Andrea Ratigan started her 13th straight event at the Lady Northern Invitational.
With her tie for 14th place at the Lady Northern, Ashley Bauer has posted back-to-back top 20 finishes for the Wolverines. In addition, it marked the second straight tournament she has finished as the highest U-M individual. In her career, she has finished as the top individual in a tournament in six-of-14 events.
Katelin Davis made her collegiate debut, starting at the Lady Northern Invitational. She tied for 80th with a 252 54-hole total.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
