Michigan
NCAA Central Regional
Olin Gets Off to Solid Start at NCAA Central Regional
5/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Site: Normal, Ill.
Course: University Golf Course (par 71, 6,108 yards)
Tournament: NCAA Central Regional
Top U-M Individual: Laura Olin, tie-17th (75) after Day 1
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sat., May 7-8 -- at NCAA Central Regional (Normal, Ill.)
NORMAL, Ill. -- Junior Laura Olin (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS) of the University of Michigan women's golf team sits in a tie for 17th after firing a four-over-par 75 during the first day (Thursday, May 6) of the NCAA Central Regional being held at Illinois State's University Golf Course. Olin is the top of three invited individuals, ahead of Wisconsin's Malinda Johnson (79) and Arkansas-Little Rock's Linda Svensson (82).
Starting her NCAA Central Regional on No. 10, Olin got on a roll early and often during her first nine holes as she played even golf as she made her way to the turn. After making the turn though, she ran into trouble on No. 1. After crushing her drive, she landed her 9-iron approach into the greenside bunker and failed to make her up and down giving her the first blemish on her scorecard with a bogey. After parring the par-5 No. 2, she bogeyed her next three holes after pushing her drive right on No. 3, three-putting No. 4 and missing her up and down on No. 5 to put her at plus-four with four holes remaining. But things settled back into a groove as she parred out her remaining four holes to finish with a first-round 75.
Vanderbilt and New Mexico took the first-day lead after team tallies of 298. Arizona sits in third just a stroke back after a 299 first-round total. Texas A&M's Kyla Neal and Arizona's Erica Blasberg are atop the leaderboard after firing three-under 68s in the first round. They are four strokes ahead of the rest of the field.
The NCAA Central Regional continues Friday (May 7) with 18 holes beginning at 8 a.m. CDT. Olin will begin her second round with a 12:20 p.m. CDT start off No. 1. The 54-hole regional tournament will conclude with a final 18 holes Saturday (May 8). The top eight teams and the top two individuals not on a qualifying team will advance to the NCAA Championship May 18-21 in Auburn, Ala.
Team Standings (After Day 1)
1. Vanderbilt 298 New Mexico 298 3. Arizona 299 4. Southern Cal 300 5. Michigan State 302 6. Missouri 303 7. Purdue 305 Texas A&M 305 9. TCU 308 Arkansas 308 11. Indiana 311 Oklahoma 311 13. Baylor 312 14. Northwestern 313 Illinois State 313 16. Southern Methodist 316 17. Tulsa 319 Notre Dame 319 19. Princeton 320 20. Kent State 325 21. Kansas State 326
Top Individuals
1. Erica Blasberg, Arizona 68 (-3) Kyla Neal, Texas A&M 68 3. Laura Cross, Southern Methodist 72 Sarah Jacobs, Vanderbilt 72 5. Karen Dennison, Indiana 73 Kailin Downs, New Mexico 73 Myrte Eikenaar, Purdue 73 Allison Fouch, Michigan State 73 Caroline Haase, Purdue 73 Ashley Rollins, New Mexico 73 May Wood, Vanderbilt 73 12. Rachel Bell, Southern Cal 74 Irene Cho, Southern Cal 74 Samantha Richdale, Illinois State 74 Kelli Strubinger, Missouri 74 Brooke Tull, TCU 74
Central Regional Individuals
T17. LAURA OLIN, U-M 75 T53. Malinda Johnson, Wisconsin 79 T84. Linda Svensson, Ark.-Little Rock 82
Q U O T E S
Michigan Coach Kathy Teichert
On Laura Olin's first round ... "Laura's game was very solid. She had great execution all day today. If she could have gotten a break on a couple of putts here and there, she would have been even better. She put herself in a good position to score today and with that she is in a nice position to move up and maybe move on to the next level."
On not having the team there ... "It is a totally different atmosphere and a total different focus. Although I wish I was here watching five girls instead of one, walking with Laura, talking with Laura and concentrating on just Laura was a little strange at first, but it has been a lot of fun."
Junior Laura Olin
On being at the regional ... "This is just such a good atmosphere to be around. It is a championship atmosphere. So far it has been a lot of fun but at the same time really kind of weird not having my teammates here with me. I turn around to talk with them and they are not here. But Coach is here and my parents are here so at least that feels like something is normal. I am just happy to be here and competing."
On her first round ... "I told myself at the start of the day that I could play the first nine holes, which was the back side, at even par. When I made the turn I just was that. Things were just coming together and I was putting the ball in a good position to score. After the turn I just had some missed up-and-downs that cost me, but I was hitting the ball well. The course was playing tough today. The pins were really tight in some spots."
N O T E S
Laura Olin is playing in her third NCAA postseason tournament and second regional.
Laura Olin recorded 14 pars out of 18 holes in the first round. The remaining four holes were recorded as bogeys.
Laura Olin's first-round 75 is her second best score in the NCAA postseason. She has twice fired 74s in NCAA play and now has three rounds of 75 in her career.
For inspiration, Michigan coach Kathy Teichert and Laura Olin went to watch Bobby Jones - Stroke of Genius, the new film about the life of Jones, who is the only golfer in history to win the Grand Slam in single year.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
