Michigan
Midwest Classic
Wolverines Finish in 10th Place at Midwest Classic
2/25/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
DALLAS, Texas -- In what was marked as one of the toughest tournaments of the year, the University of Michigan women's golf team finished 10th in the Midwest Classic at the Hyatt Bear Creek Golf Club on Sunday (Feb. 25). After battling windy and rainy conditions all weekend, the Wolverines closed out the three-day tournament with a third-round team score of 309 for a 943 total. The Wolverines shot 316 in the first round and 318 in the second.
Junior LeAnna Wicks (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) led the way for the Wolverines as she finished tied for 18th after firing rounds of 80-74-78 for a 232 total. Fellow junior Misia Lemanski (Grosse Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile HS) followed Wicks as she tied for 27th after rounds of 79-80-76 for a 235 total.
Sophomore Kim Benedict (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS) tied for 50th (77-85-79/241) and junior Bess Bowers (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington North HS) tied for 56th (83-79-81/243). Junior Cortney Reno (Grosse Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile HS) opened the Classic with an 80 in the first round, before being disqualified in the second round for failing to sign her scorecard. She closed out the tournament with a third-round score of 76.
Freshman Sarah Kruer (La Jolla, Calif./La Jolla Country Day) and senior Trish Watkins (Darien, Conn./Darien HS) competed as individuals for the Wolverines, with Kruer finishing tied for 28th (80-80-78/238) and Watkins tying for 75th (82-81-92/255).
Oklahoma State (295-308-303/906) held off a late charge by Ohio State (302-309-303/914) to win the Midwest Classic team title, but it was the Buckeyes' Mollie Fankhauser (73-74-70/217) who took home individual medalist honors. Missouri's Amelia Moses (71-74-76/221) was the individual runner-up.
The Wolverines continue their stay in Texas as the tournament team will be joined by the rest of Wolverine squad in Austin, Texas, to practice during spring break (Feb. 26-March 3). While there, the Wolverines will have an intense, weeklong training session. Each day has something different planned, but the basics of range work and playing will be spread out through the week.
Michigan's next competition will be March 17-18 at Stetson's Hatter Spring Fling at Pelican Bay North Country Club in Dayton Beach, Fla.
Team Standings
1. Oklahoma State 295-308-303 = 906 2. Ohio State 302-309-303 = 914 3. Oklahoma 299-309-316 = 924 4. Baylor 308-317-301 = 926 5. Missouri 306-309-312 = 927 6. Texas A&M 318-315-297 = 930 7. Purdue 311-319-305 = 935 8. Kent 312-317-309 = 938 9. Northwestern 315-312-312 = 939 10. MICHIGAN 316-318-309 = 943 11. Nebraska 318-319-315 = 952 12. Minnesota 326-318-310 = 954 13. Arkansas-Little Rock 326-318-313 = 957 14. Arkansas State 323-330-314 = 967 15. Southern Methodist 324-320-327 = 971 16. Wisconsin 336-322-320 = 978 17. Southwest Missouri State 333-339-337 = 1009 18. Iowa 334-359-344 = 1037Top Individuals
1. Mollie Fankhauser, Ohio State 73-74-70 = 217 2. Amelia Moses, Missouri 71-74-76 = 221 3. Mira Bendevis, Texas A&M 75-77-70 = 222 4. Maria Boden, Oklahoma State 71-77-75 = 223 5. Melanie Hagewood, Baylor 75-79-71 = 225 Linda Wessberg, Oklahoma State 75-75-75 = 225 7. Allison Hanna, Ohio State 75-74-77 = 226 8. Allison Johnson, Oklahoma 74-77-76 = 227Michigan Individual Scores
T18. LeAnna Wicks 80-74-78 = 232 T27. Misia Lemanski 79-80-76 = 235 T50. Kim Benedict 77-85-79 = 241 T56. Bess Bowers 83-79-81 = 243 -- Cortney Reno 80-DQ-76 T39. Sarah Kruer* 80-80-78 = 238 T75. Trish Watkins* 82-81-92 = 255 * competed as individuals
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Kathy Teichert
On the overall tournament performance ... "We didn't have a bad tournament, but we didn't have a good tournament either. After the first round, I thought we were in a good position to move up. After the second round, we just didn't have the scores we needed, especially from our top two players, but we recovered in the third round. So overall I am pleased, but I still think we had too many mistakes that cost us. We just can't do that."
On the play of LeAnna Wicks and Misia Lemanski ... "I am very pleased with the play of LeAnna and Misia. They kept things simple and controlled their games. They both played very well and stayed the course the entire tournament and that is extremely nice to see."
On some of the mistakes that were made ... "There is no reason for some of the mistakes we had. We made a mistake and then tried to push ourselves out of them, which in turn makes it harder and harder to do what you want to do and that can cost you. It cost us."
Junior LeAnna Wicks
On her tournament performance ... "Overall, I just tried to stay mentally focused. I prepared for this tournament and wanted to make sure that I took my time, play it one stroke at a time. I really wanted to concentrate and relax all the way from the tee to the green. I even made sure that I took my time around the greens and it worked because I made a lot of up and downs. But I am just happy with the way I played."
On shooting the 74 in the second round ... "It was a hectic day because of the weather, but you just have to take what comes. I just tried to stay patient and it paid off. You just have to concentrate and trust your game. In situations like that you don't want to take too many risks because it can cost you and I just played my game."
On the team coming together ... "We're all starting to get on the same wavelength. We worked a lot on team dynamics and I think that it is starting to pay off. It helps us off the course. It helps us on the course. We are becoming very close."
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
