Michigan
Mary Fossum Invitational
Wolverines Fifth at Abbreviated Mary Fossum Invitational
9/24/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Sophomore Kim Benedict (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS) fired a career-low 70 to tie for first place and lead the University of Michigan women's golf team to a fifth-place finish at the rain-shortened Mary Fossum Invitational on Sunday (Sept. 24).
The Wolverines traveled an hour up the road to Michigan State to participate in the scheduled 54-hole event but had to wait two days before striking a ball in tournament play. Three inches of rain washed out Friday's (Sept. 22) practice round, and flooding on the Forest Akers West Course forced Saturday's (Sept. 23) first two rounds of competition to be cancelled.
The waiting was over on Sunday as the tournament was reduced to 18 holes and the Wolverines played well, firing a team total of 303 to give them a fifth-place finish in the 15-team field.
Benedict sparked the Wolverines' performance with her two-under-par 70 and tied Minnesota's Jenny Bruun for medalist honors, forcing a playoff. After only 29 putts during Benedict's round, it was the putter that got the best of Benedict as she lost on the first hole after three-putting for a bogey five while Bruun parred for the win.
In addition to Bruun's victory, Minnesota won the team title with a team total of 296. Kent State was second with a 299 and Northwestern finished third at 301.
As for the rest of the Wolverines, junior LeAnna Wicks (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) had an outstanding round, firing a career-best 73 to finish tied for seventh. Juniors Misia Lemanski (Grosse Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile HS) and Bess Bowers (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington North HS) both tied for 22nd after firing 77s. Senior Trish Watkins (Darien, Conn./Darien HS) tied for 46th (79) and Cortney Reno (Grosse Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile HS) tied for 63rd (82).
The Wolverines continue the fall season with a preview of the Big Ten Conference Championship as they travel to Minneapolis, Minn., for the Lady Northern on Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 30-Oct. 1). All 11 Big Ten teams will be on hand as the Wolverines get an early look at the Les Bolstad Golf Course, site of the 2001 Big Ten Championships in late April.
Team Standings
1. Minnesota 296 2. Kent State 299 3. Northwestern 301 4. Michigan State 302 5. MICHIGAN 303 6. Kansas State 304 7. Illinois 306 8. Indiana 309 9. Oregon 311 10. Nebraska 315 Wisconsin 315 12. Eastern Michigan 323 13. Ohio 325 14. Notre Dame 326 15. Kansas 328Top Individuals
1. Jenny Bruun, Minnesota 70* KIM BENEDICT, U-M 70 3. Natalie Tucker, Indiana 72 Emily Gilley, Northwestern 72 Heather Dobbin, Kent State 72 Megan Stier, Minnesota 72 * Won playoff on first holeOther Michigan Scores
T7. LeAnna Wicks 73 T22. Misia Lemanski 77 T22. Bess Bowers 77 T46. Trish Watkins 79 T63. Cortney Reno 82
Q U O T E S
Coach Kathy Teichert
On the team's performance ... "I'm happy about the results. Towards the end I saw some opportunities get away, but overall I am happy with our play. As I said last week, we are still putting it together. We need to avoid mistakes and keep things going. Right now, for the first two tournaments I couldn't be happier."
On Kim Benedict's performance ... "She gave it her best shot. She was so consistent during the round. She knocked it pretty far on the first playoff hole and put it close on the high side, but she just pushed it and that's just the way it goes. But I am very happy for Kim, she has been playing so well lately."
Sophomore Kim Benedict
On her tournament performance ... "I felt really good in the practice round and that continued through the entire round. I hit a lot of greens and didn't have any three putts ... until the playoff. But I was super consistent and I am very, very happy with the way I played."
On her mindset after waiting around and then only playing 18 holes ... "You have to have no hesitation. You have to go out and play your game. There is a lot more focus that goes into each hole."
On the team's performance after waiting a day ... "I said to the girls yesterday, if we only play 18 holes it's anyone's tournament to win. We played well. The finish was good for us. We just need to keep doing the things we are and we will get there, I know we will. Just wait."
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
