Michigan
Hatter Spring Fling
Wolverines Capture Hatter Spring Fling by 14 Strokes
3/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The University of Michigan women's golf team won its second tournament of the spring season today (Sunday, March 18) at Stetson's Hatter Spring Fling at the Pelican Bay North Country Club. The Wolverines finished with team rounds of 299 and 303 for a 602-tournament total, which was 14 strokes better than tournament runner-up Ohio State (316-300/616). Charleston Southern (315-307/622) finished third.
The Wolverines' 602 total destroyed Michigan's team best two-round tournament total mark by 18 strokes. Michigan's previous best was a 620 shot at the James Madison Invitational (Oct. 8-9, 1994). In addition, the team title at Spring Fling gives the Wolverines their 11th tournament team title since 1981, six of which have come under coach Kathy Teichert's reign.
Sophomore Kim Benedict (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS) tied for low individual total with Ohio State's Mollie Fankhauser, forcing a playoff for the tournament trophy. On the first hole, Benedict fired a drive 30-yard farther than Fankhauser's, but Fankhauser put her second shot just four feet from the pin, while Benedict put hers 18 feet away. Fankhauser sank her birdie putt to win the trophy. Both Benedict and Fankhauser carded rounds of 75 and 73 for 148 tournament totals.
Benedict led a group of four Wolverines who finished in the top 10. Junior LeAnna Wicks (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) fired a career-best-tying 72 in the final round to finish tied for fourth with a career-best 150 two-round tournament total. Wicks fired a 78 in the first round. Junior Bess Bowers (Bloomington, Ind./North HS) tied for seventh after a career-best 72 in the first round. She slipped in the second round with a 79 but still managed to finish with a career-best 151 tournament total. Freshman Sarah Kruer (La Jolla, Calif./La Jolla Country Day) had a career-best finish as she placed ninth after carding a career-best 74 in the first round and a 79 in the second for a 153 total.
Junior Misia Lemanski (Grosse Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile HS) finished tied for 23rd (79-80/159) and senior Amy Talbot (Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS), playing as an individual, finished tied for 33rd (82-80/162).
Michigan makes its final southern trip of the spring season for the Baylor/Iowa San Antonio Shootout, Monday and Tuesday (March 26-27) at Peacon Valley Golf Club in San Antonio, Texas.
Team Standings
1. MICHIGAN 299-303 = 602 2. Ohio State 316-300 = 616 3. Charleston Southern 315-307 = 622 4. Iowa 310-319 = 629 5. Florida Southern 314-322 = 636 6. Bethune-Cookman 324-319 = 643 Winthrop 320-323 = 643 Bradley 322-321 = 643 9. Austin Peay 324-321 = 644 10. Stetson 329-325 = 654 11. Daytona Beach C.C. 340-642 = 682 12. Florida Atlantic 340-345 = 685 13. Appalachian State 341-346 = 687 14. Jacksonville 337-359 = 696 15. Mercer 338-364 = 702 16. Dartmouth 339-364 = 703Top Individuals
1. Mollie Fankhauser, Ohio State 75-73 = 148# 2. KIM BENEDICT, U-M 75-73 = 148 3. Patricia Martinson, Charleston Southern 76-73 = 149 4. LEANNA WICKS, U-M 78-72 = 150 Allison Hanna, Ohio State 77-73 = 150 Neira Boyson, Bethune-Cookman 76-74 = 150 7. BESS BOWERS, U-M 72-79 = 151 Amanda Phillips, Austin Peay 75-76 = 151 9. SARAH KRUER, U-M 74-79 = 153 # won playoff on first holeOther Michigan Scores
T23. Misia Lemanski 79-80 = 159 T33. Amy Talbot 82-80 = 162* * competed as an individual
N O T E S
The team victory is the Wolverines' second in their first three spring tournaments. Almost a month ago, the Wolverines won their first tournament in five years at the Lady Aztec Invitational (Feb. 12-13) at Barona Creek Golf Course in Lakeside, Calif. The Wolverines tied BYU for the Invitational title (311). Before that, the Maize and Blue's last team tournament trophy was at the 1996 Purdue Invitational (April 13-14).
Kim Benedict played in her second individual playoff for medalist honors and lost to Ohio State's Mollie Fankhauser on the first hole. Earlier this season, Benedict had a playoff at the Fossum Invitational (Sept. 24, 2000), but she lost to Minnesota's Jenny Bruun on the first hole. Benedict's Hatter Spring Fling total of 148 was a career-best mark. She bettered her previous mark of 153 set last year at the Saluki Invitational (March 26-27, 2000).
LeAnna Wicks tied a career best with a 72 in the final round. She also recorded a 72 earlier this season in the second round of the Shootout of the Legends (Oct. 9-10). Wick's Hatter Spring Fling total of 150 was a career-best mark. She bettered her previous mark of 162 set last year at the Wolverine Invitational (Oct. 9-10, 1999).
Bess Bowers' first round of 72 is a career-best single round. She has twice hit 73 in her career -- earlier this season in the final round of the Shootout at the Legends (Oct. 9-10) and last year in the first round of the Hawkeye Invitational (April 15-16, 2000). She has carded a 74 four times in her career. Bowers' Hatter Spring Fling total of 151 was a career-best mark, bettering her previous mark of 158 during her freshman year at the Springlake Invitational (March 15-16, 1999).
Sarah Kruer's first-round score of 74 is a career-best single round. Her previous best was a 75 tallied in the second round of the Lady Northern (Sept. 29-Oct. 1). Kruer's ninth-place finish was also her collegiate best, bettering her tie for 19th at the Wolverine Invitational (Sept. 16-17).
With Michigan's first round of 299, the Wolverines have struck below the 300-stroke barrier for the third time this season and fifth time in Michigan history. Earlier this season, the Wolverines fired a school-record 287 in the final round of the Shootout at the Legend (Oct. 9-10).
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Kathy Teichert
On the tournament win ... "The team's attitude was so much better this tournament. We really stepped it up. We stepped up our play. We stepped up of attitudes. We stepped up our competitive edge. We went out and set some goals and met them -- one being we wanted to put ourselves in a position to win, which we did, and then take it home for there, which we did."
On beating Ohio State ... "I really think that this is the first time that we have ever beaten Ohio State. They are such a strong team with consistently strong years. To get a win over them says a lot for our girls and a lot for the program. We are doing things so well as a team and wins like this will only help us down the stretch run of the spring season."
On the play of LeAnna Wicks, Kim Benedict and Bess Bowers ... "LeAnna played so well today, she was so focused. When each of the girls gets into their zones nothing else matters. LeAnna was totally in a zone and that showed today. She has continued to get better and better with each tournament. Kim was consistent. She has been hitting a lot of fairways and that has helped give her opportunities for birdies and if not then a par. Bess played extremely well after being a little off. She is striking the ball much better and concentrating a lot on putting and that showed."
On what has been the difference in the team ... "We started off the spring with a win. Then we didn't do exactly what we wanted at the Midwest Classic, but we had a great break. We worked hard and had some long talks. This team has a lot of talent. The big difference is their attitudes. They continue to step up not only their games, but everything, the whole nine yards. They are just having some much fun and when you do that it can translate into success."
Sophomore Kim Benedict
On the playoff ... "This is the second time this year that I have had to do it. I just wish it could have come out differently, but I am not that worried. We won as a team and that means more to me. It was funny though, when we started the playoff I was really relaxed. I said to myself, 'What do I have to lose Let's just go out there and play.' She hit a great second shot and there is really nothing you can do."
On the team winning ... "It feels awesome. We had a little blip at the Midwest (Classic), but I think we needed to experience that in order to move on. It was a lesson we need to take and remember. Our confidence is so sky-high right now and we are having so much fun. I just love this team. Sometimes we lose the love in what we do, especially in college golf, but this team has a love for what they do. We love to compete, we love helping each other and we love being around each other. That is so important."
Junior LeAnna Wicks
On the team winning the tournament ... "We're all really excited. It just helps us gain even more confidence for the rest of the season. Beating Ohio State and Iowa -- other Big Ten teams -- continues to build on that confidence. We know that we can compete against the other schools, we just have to go out and do it. We've had some meetings where we have shifted our goals -- one being we wanted to win another tournament this year. Well, to win by 14 strokes we are going to reset that goal. It just feels so great."
On her approach to her game ... "It's all been the mental game. I tend to think in the future too much when I am playing well and that messes me up. But I just focus one shot at a time and slow down. This approach has helped me a lot, staying in the present and concentrating."
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
