Michigan
Hawkeye Invitational
Benedict, Michigan Earn Top Honors at Hawkeye Invite
4/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- With a commanding performance, the University of Michigan women's golf team won its third event of the season and sophomore Kim Benedict (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS) won her first collegiate tournament in a four-player playoff today (Sunday, April 15) at the Hawkeye Invitational played at Finkbine Golf Course. The Wolverines (299-302-301/902) dominated from start to finish, winning by 17 strokes over second-place Indiana (297-311-311/919). Iowa (305-303-312/920) and Iowa State (308-307-305/920) tied for third.
In her third playoff for individual medalist honors this season, Benedict capitalized at the Hawkeye Invitational to win her first collegiate tournament on the second playoff hole. At the end of regulation, Benedict (73-74-76), teammate LeAnna Wicks (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) (76-74-73), first-day leader Kelly Pickett of Eastern Michigan (72-71-80) and Iowa State's Noel Jacobusse (76-72-75) all finished with 223 tournament totals, forcing a four-player playoff.
On the first hole, Benedict and Jacobusse converted pars, while Wicks and Pickett were eliminated with bogeys. Benedict then converted a long up-and-down to par the second hole while Jacobusse missed her par putt to seal the win for Benedict.
In addition to Benedict's title and Wicks' career-best second-place finish, junior Bess Bowers (Bloomington, Ind./North HS) finished with a career-best finish as she placed fifth after rounds of 74-74-77 for a 225 total.
Junior Cortney Reno (Grosse Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile HS) tied for 16th after carding rounds of 76-80-75 for a 231 total and junior Misia Lemanski (Grosse Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile HS) tied for 40th after firing rounds of 79-81-82 for a 242 total. Competing as an individual, sophomore Sarah Rector (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids HS) played in her second tournament this season and tied for 43rd (85-80-79/244).
The Wolverines are finished with the regular-season tournaments and next head to Falcon Heights, Minn., for the 2001 Big Ten Conference Championships at Les Bolstad Golf Course on Friday through Sunday, April 27-29.
Team Standings
1. MICHIGAN 299-302-301 = 902 2. Indiana 297-311-311 = 919 3. Iowa 305-303-312 = 920 Iowa State 308-307-305 = 920 5. Eastern Michigan 309-300-323 = 932 6. Arkansas-Little Rock 320-300-319 = 939 7. Wisconsin 318-310-313 = 941 8. Minnesota 310-310-324 = 944 9. Kansas 316-313-319 = 948 10. Northern Iowa 317-319-314 = 950 11. Quincy 346-358-351 = 1055 12. Minnesota State-Mankato 357-351-370 = 1078Top Individuals
1. KIM BENEDICT, U-M# 73-74-76 = 223 (+4) 2. LeANNA WICKS, U-M 76-74-73 = 223 Kelly Pickett, Eastern Mich. 72-71-80 = 223 Noel Jacobusse, Iowa State 76-72-75 = 223 5. BESS BOWERS, U-M 74-74-77 = 225 # won on second hole of playoffOther Michigan Scores
T16. Cortney Reno 76-80-75 = 231 T40. Misia Lemanski 79-81-82 = 242 T43. Sarah Rector* 85-80-79 = 244 * competed as an individual
N O T E S
Sophomore Kim Benedict garnered her first collegiate individual medalist honor at the Hawkeye Invitational after winning the four-person playoff for the trophy. It was the third time this season Benedict was in a playoff for the individual medalist honor (Sept. 24 at Fossum Invitationa; March 17-18 at Hatter Spring Fling).
Junior LeAnna Wicks' second-place finish at the Hawkeye Invitational was a career best. Earlier this year, she set the mark with a tie for fourth at the Hatter Spring Fling (March 17-18). In addition, junior Bess Bowers' fifth-place finish at the Hawkeye Invitational was a career best finish, bettering the tie for seventh she had at the Hatter Spring Fling.
The team victory at the Hawkeye Invitational is the Wolverines' third title on the season, all in the spring. The Wolverines also tied for first at the Lady Aztec Invitational (Feb. 12-13) and won outright at the Hatter Spring Fling (March 17-18). Prior to the three wins this year, the Maize and Blue's last team tournament trophy was at the 1996 Purdue Invitational (April 13-14).
The win at the Hawkeye Invitational gives the Wolverines their 12th tournament team title since 1981, seven of which have come under coach Kathy Teichert's reign.
The three victories in 2000-01 also tie the school mark for most tournament victories in a season. The Wolverines last did it during the 1995-96 season when they won Lady Kat Invitational (Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 1995); the Saluki Invitational (March 24-25, 1996) and the Purdue Invitational (April 13-14, 1996).
With Michigan's first round of 299 at the Hawkeye Invitational, the Wolverines have struck below the 300-stroke barrier for the fourth time this season and sixth time in Michigan history. Earlier this season, the Wolverines fired a school-record 287 in the final round of the Shootout at the Legends (Oct. 10) and hit the 299 mark at the Shootout at the Legends (Oct. 9) and Hatter Spring Fling (March 17).
Sophomore Sarah Rector competed in just her second tournament of season and third of her Michigan career. At the Hawkeye Invitational, Rector competed as an individual and finished tied for 43rd. Prior to her trip to Iowa City, Rector had competed in the 1999 and 2000 Wolverine Invitationals.
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Kathy Teichert
On the tournament victory ... "We had an exceptional tournament. I am really proud of the girls and all their efforts at the tournament and the week leading up to it. They've responded and that is all I can ask for. We've played well here in the past and did so again. I don't really know what it is about Iowa, but I like it here."
On what the tournament victory means to the team ... "There is no question we needed to have a confidence booster for us. We needed a win and we got it. The course really sets up well for our kids' games. They were hitting the ball long off the tee and then hitting the irons with a lot of accuracy, so the girls really focused in and stepped it up with each round and shot. The more we play, the more good things happen. One of the things we wanted to focus on was finishing in the end. We have been playing pretty consistently, but slip in those late stages. I did not see that this weekend."
On her team's play ... "To have three players play that well is pretty good. I am just so elated for Kim (Benedict), LeAnna (Wicks) and Bess (Bowers). We just have to work on the others and really make that push, which we can do. We have to remain focused and confident."
On preparing for the Big Ten Championships ... "This win does a world of good for our confidence level. We now have a week to prepare and work on the smaller things. But we will be prepared."
Sophomore Kim Benedict
On winning the tournament ... "It's real nice to get that monkey off my back. For some reason I just had this feeling that there was going to be a playoff. When LeAnna (Wicks) came in a 223 and then Noel, I just knew it. But, you know, going into it I was really calm. Like the two times before I just said to myself that there was nothing to lose and went out and played. Fortunately for me, I got the win this time, but winning the team title means a little more to tell you the truth."
On the team's title ... "This helps in a lot of ways. It helps with our confidence and it will help us prepare for the Big Ten Championships. We just have to come out and play our game. We did what we needed to here and now we need to do it again in Minneapolis."
On her game during the tournament ... "I wasn't hitting my driver as well as I would have liked, but I was striking my irons very well and hitting the greens. When you are striking the greens with consistency, it gives you the confidence to go for the pins, which I did. I putted solidly all tournament long, which also helped. Overall, I am happy."
Junior LeAnna Wicks
On the tournament ... "I was pretty focused. I came to this tournament and really wanted to play my game. There were a few times that I slipped mentally and it cost me some strokes, but I focused on getting back to my game and it worked. I am quite happy. I just wanted to make sure that I had fun off the course and was all business on it."
On the team title helping prepare the Wolverines for the Big Ten Championships ... "This is a big confidence booster for us going into the Big Ten Championships. We know what we need to work on and we will do that over the next week. We need to use that confidence we have over the next week and carry it into the next week. We need to keep the momentum going."
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
