Michigan
Indiana Invitational
Benedict Masters IU Golf Course to Win Indiana Invitational
4/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Battling frigid weather conditions for the second day at the IU Golf Course, senior Kim Benedict (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS) of the University of Michigan women's golf team won her third career collegiate tournament title today (Sunday, April 6) at the Indiana Invitational by a single stroke over Wisconsin's Katie Connelly. The Wolverines finished sixth as a team with a 948 54-hole total after team rounds of 322 and 313 Saturday followed by a closing 313 that matched the second lowest team round Sunday.
| | Kim Benedict accepts her medalist trophy from Indiana head coach Sam Carmichael. |
With weather conditions producing higher winds than the first day, Benedict had a final round of two-over 76 to help her maintain her lead throughout the tournament and win by a single stroke with a season-best 222 total. Benedict stayed ahead of Wisconsin's Katie Connelly, who finished with a 223 total (76-73-74), and Arkansas Little Rock's Maria Svensson, who tallied a 225 (79-73-73).
Sophomore Laura Olin (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS) continued her opening-round struggles but again found her way in the second and third rounds as she tied for 18th with a 237 total. Olin opened with an 84 but rallied in the second round with a two-over 76 and closed with a 77. Freshman Amy Schmucker (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori HS) tied for 33rd, carding back-to-back 84s on the first day but coming back in the final round with a three-over 77 for a 245 total.
Fifth-year senior Stephanie Stasik (Lubbock, Texas/Coronado HS) tied for 38th (82-82-83/247), while junior/sophomore Courtney Goebel (Huntington Beach, Calif./Marina HS) and freshman Kelly Easton (Port Huron, Mich./Northern HS) both tied for 56th with 254 tournament totals. Easton finished with rounds of 86, 81 and 87, while Goebel had rounds of 84, 86 and 84.
Purdue maintained its lead throughout the tournament as the Boilermakers won by 12 strokes with a 916 total (307-304-305). Missouri was second with a 928 total (309-305-314) and Kent State was third at 934 (307-314-313).
The Wolverines will stay in Big Ten country for their last regular-season tournament as they head to West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday and Sunday (April 12-13) for the Lady Boilermaker Invitational. The 54-hole tournament will be held at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, which is the site of the 2003 NCAA Women's Golf Championships.
Final Team Standings
1. Purdue 307-304-305 = 916 2. Missouri 309-305-314 = 928 3. Kent State 307-314-313 = 934 4. Indiana 317-303-317 = 937 5. Wisconsin 318-306-322 = 946 6. MICHIGAN 322-313-313 = 948 7. Notre Dame 327-318-318 = 963 8. Minnesota 323-322-322 = 967 9. Arkansas-Little Rock 323-317-330 = 970 10. Iowa 324-332-326 = 982 11. Illinois State 331-336-325 = 992
Top Individuals
1. Kim Benedict, U-M 72-74-76 = 222 (E) 2. Katie Connelly, Wisconsin 76-73-74 = 223 3. Maria Svensson, UALR 79-73-73 = 225 4. Maria Ohlsson, Missouri 77-75-75 = 227 Beth Hermes, Purdue 76-76-75 = 227 6. Elin Ohlsson, Missouri 77-76=76 = 229 Martina Gillen, Kent State 76-76-77 = 229 Onnarin Sattayabanphot, Purdue 78-76-75 = 229 9. Veronique Drouin, Kent State 78-78-75 = 231 Kari Damron, Purdue 77-79-75 = 231 Karen Dennison, Indiana 78-75-78 = 231 Heather Suhr, Purdue 77-74-80 = 231 13. Malinda Johnson, Wisconsin 79-76-77 = 232 14. Katie Brophy, Notre Dame 82-74-77 = 233 15. Danah Ford, Indiana 81-74-80 = 235 Cara Stuckey, Indiana 79-76-80 = 235
Other Michigan Individuals
T18. Laura Olin 84-76-77 = 237 T33. Amy Schmucker 84-84-77 = 245 T38. Stephanie Stasik 82-82-83 = 247 T56. Courtney Goebel 84-86-84 = 254 T56. Kelly Easton 86-81-87 = 254
N O T E S
Kim Benedict's medalist honor at the Indiana Invitational is the third of her career and second in the state of Indiana. She won the 2001 Hawkeye Invitational (April 14-15, 2001) in Iowa City, Iowa, and the 2001 Shootout at the Legends (Oct. 8-9, 2001) in Franklin, Ind. She has five career medalist runner-up finishes.
Benedict led the Indiana Invitational with 13 total birdies. She was also first in par-3 scoring at even par, second in par-4 scoring at plus-three and third in par-5 scoring at three under par.
Benedict had a season-best 54-hole total with a 222 tally at the Indiana Invitational. The total bettered her 223 total she had at the Lady Northern Invitational (Sept. 28-29).
Benedict extended her consecutive tournament streak to 47; she has not missed a single tournament in her four-year career. Laura Olin extended her streak to 22 straight tournaments for the Wolverines. Amy Schmucker and Stephanie Stasik, along with Benedict and Olin, have played in all 10 tournaments this season.
Kelly Easton competed in just her third career collegiate tournament.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
