Michigan
Wolverine Invitational (Day 2)
Michigan, Broderick Claim Wolverine Invitational Titles
10/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After heavy storms and lightning postponed the completion of the second round, the University of Michigan women's golf team came back early today (Sunday, Oct. 1) to rally and win its fourth Wolverine Invitational title in the last five years at the U-M Golf Course. The Wolverines swept the tournament hardware after a dramatic individual playoff win from senior Brianna Broderick (Richmond, Mo./Richmond HS) gave the Maize and Blue the double win on the weekend.
Broderick's career-best 70 in the first round helped her to her second career title.
Trailing by two strokes to Ohio State after the second round, Michigan fell even further back during the third round as the Buckeyes pushed their lead to as many as 12 strokes with nine holes remaining. The Wolverines persevered on the back nine of the U-M Golf Course thanks to the help of the play of Broderick and freshman Ashley Bauer (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS). Broderick played the back nine in even par, while Bauer played it one over as the Maize and Blue cut into Ohio State's lead.
Hole after the hole, the Wolverines and Buckeyes battled on separate halves of the course not knowing how the others were playing. In the end, the Wolverines posted a team total of 306 in the final round, while the Buckeyes closed with a 310, giving the Wolverines a four-stroke swing and a successful comeback win by two strokes, 906 to 908. The Wolverines opened their first 36 holes with team tallies of 305 and 295, while the Buckeyes posted team rounds of 305 and 293. Northwestern (311-298-301) was third with a 910 total.
The dramatics during the tournament did not stop there as the Michigan and Ohio State battle spilled over into the individual race as well. Broderick (70-77-75) and OSU's Dana Je (74-73-75) each closed the tournament with a 222 54-hole total, forcing a playoff for medalist honors.
Starting on hole No. 18, Broderick put her second shot about 45 feet away while Je landed her shot just to the right of he pin about 15 feet away. Broderick almost sank her long birdie putt, resting the ball less than a foot away. After Je missed her birdie attempt, the pair parred the hole, sending the playoff to the 10th hole.
On the 10th hole, Broderick's second shot hit the left side of the green, spun back and rolled just off the fringe, while Je landed her second shot eight feet from the pin. Taking her nine iron out for the bump-and-run chip, Broderick just missed sinking the birdie attempt as the ball rested within five inches of the hole. Je had a bending putt for the win but left it short. With both players sinking par tap-ins, the duo went back to 18.
After strong drives to kick off No. 18, Je sent her second shot off the green and into the second cut of the green, while Broderick landed her shot about 25 feet below the hole. Je's chip was short as the ball did not release, ending up about nine feet from the hole. With a chance for the win, Broderick pushed her putt about five feet past the hole. Je then just missed her par attempt as the ball floated just right of the hole and stopped within eight inches. After Je tapped in for her bogey, Broderick made good on her second opportunity for the win, draining the five-footer to secure her second career individual title.
To complement Broderick's medalist honor, the Wolverines posted three other starters among the top 20. Bauer closed in a tie for seventh with a 226 54-hole tournament total. After opening with an 80, she came back firing in the second round, posting a one-over 72, and closed with a three-over 74 to earn the top-10 finish. Senior Ali Stinson (Penticton, B.C./Penticton Secondary) tied for 15th with a 228 total that included descending scores of 78, 76 and 74.
Junior Lindsay Davis (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) gave the Wolverines four in the top 20 as she tied for 20th with a 230 total. After posting an opening-round 77, she was on fire in the second round, tallying a career-best one-under 70. She closed with an 83. Freshman Andrea Ratigan (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HS), the other Wolverine starter, tied for 59th with a 252 total (83-85-84).
Other Wolverines competing as individuals included: junior Isabelle Gendreau (St. Georges de Beauce, Quebec/Saint Andrew's School), tied for 34th with a 236 total (79-78-79); senior/junior Julie Inwood (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea HS), tied for 40th with a 240 total (82-79-79); sophomore Lydia Bentez Coln (Dorado, Puerto Rico/Pendleton School), tied for 43rd with a 242 total (82-79-81); sophomore Audra Walter (Burton, Mich./Flint Kearsley HS), tied for 61st with a 259 total (88-85-86); and junior/sophomore Rose Cassard (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids HS), 63rd with a 270 total (86-95-89).
The Wolverines will take a weekend off before heading to Knoxville, Tenn., Friday through Sunday, Oct. 13-15, for the prestigious 2006 Mercedes-Benz Classic at Cherokee Country Club. The Maize and Blue will be playing at the Classic for the first time since the 2002-03 season, when the Wolverines tied for 12th.
Team Standings
1. MICHIGAN 305-295-306 = 906 2. Ohio State 305-293-310 = 908 3. Northwestern 311-298-301 = 910 4. Michigan State 315-301-303 = 919 Indiana 308-304-307 = 919 6. Southern Methodist 305-310-314 = 929 7. Eastern Michigan 312-317-306 = 935 8. Baylor 316-303-318 = 937 9. Oklahoma 316-316-312 = 944 10. Toledo 318-321-314 = 953
Top Individuals
1. BRIANNA BRODERICK, U-M 70-77-75 = 222@ 2. Dana Je, Ohio State 74-73-75 = 222 3. Stephany Fleet, Eastern Michigan 72-78-73 = 223 4. Alice Kim, Northwestern 78-71-75 = 224 5. Jennifer Cassidy, Ohio State 76-73-76 = 225* Heather Rose, Michigan State 76-76-73 = 225 7. ASHLEY BAUER, U-M 80-72-74 = 226 Liliana Alvarez, Northwestern 77-74-75 = 226 Brittany Johnston, Northwestern 77-73-76 = 226 Laura Nochta, Indiana 72-78-76 = 226 11. Kate Ackerson, SMU 77-76-74 = 227 Haley Brown, Ohio State 78-71-78 = 227 Sara Brown, Michigan State 79-72-76 = 227 Hannah Burke, Baylor 77-69-81 = 227
Other Michigan Individuals
T15. Ali Stinson 78-76-74 = 228 T20. Lindsay Davis 77-70-83 = 230 T59. Andrea Ratigan 83-85-84 = 252 T34. Isabelle Gendreau 79-78-79 = 236* T40. Julie Inwood 82-79-79 = 240* T43. Lydia Benitez Colon 82-79-81 = 242* T61. Audra Walter 88-85-86 = 259* 63. Rose Cassard 86-95-89 = 270* * playing as an individual @ won individual playoff on third hole
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
