Wolverines Tie for Ninth Place at Central District Classic

Monday, February 20

Parrish, Fla.

Michigan

Central District Classic

Wolverines Tie for Ninth Place at Central District Classic

2/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf

PARRISH, Fla. -- After almost four months away from competition, the University of Michigan women's golf team teed off its spring season with a tie for ninth place finish today (Tuesday, Feb. 21) in the talented field at the 2006 Central District Classic at the River Wilderness Country Club. The Maize and Blue closed with a 925 54-hole total, which tied with Northwestern, after Wolverine team rounds of 308, 311 and a final round 306.

Senior Amy Schmucker (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori HS) and junior Brianna Broderick (Richmond, Mo./Richmond HS) led the Wolverines as they tied for 28th individually as they both tallied 231 54-hole totals. Schmucker descended each of her three round totals as she opened her tournament with a six-over 78 after notching three birdies in the round. She used two more birdies in the second round to lower her score by a stroke with a five-over 77 and closed out with a four-over 76, with three birdies to give her eight for the tournament.

Broderick opened her tournament posting an two-over 74 after tallying 14 pars and a birdie. After playing one-over golf through her first six holes in the second round, she found some troubles on the front nine as she closed with a seven-over 79. She closed out with a six-over 78 to finish the tournament helping her to her first top Wolverine finish of the season.

Junior Ali Stinson (Penticton, B.C./Penticton Secondary) tied for 33rd after closing with a 233 54-hole total. After opening with a six-over 78, she tallied a second round seven-over 79. She fired a four-over 76 to give her fifth top 35 finish of the season.

Other Wolverine finishes included: senior Kelly Easton (Port Huron, Mich../Northern HS), tied for 36th at 234 (78-76-80); sophomore Lindsay Davis (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS), tied for 44th at 235 (78-81-76) and freshman Lydia Bentez Coln (Dorado, Puerto Rico/Pendleton School [Bradenton, Fla.]), who played as an individual, tied for 59th at 240 (79-83-78).

Baylor (302-298-296) held onto its first day lead to take home the team title with a 896 54-hole total, while Ohio State (301-308-298) was the runner-up at 907. Southern Methodist (298-311-299) finished third at 908. Individually, Southern Methodist's Lacey Jones used a final round two-under 70 to take home medalist honors with a 215 total (72-73-70). Nebraska's Stephanie Ruiz (73-75-71) was the runner-up with a 219 total.

The Wolverines will head to Arizona for their annual Spring Break training trip. The Wolverines will practice, training and play at various Arizona course Friday (Feb. 24) to Wednesday (March 1). As Spring Break comes to a close, the Maize and Blue will head over to Rio Verde, Ariz., Thursday through Saturday (March 2-4) for the 2006 Rio Verde Collegiate. The 54-hole tournament will be played on the White Wing Course at the Rio Verde Country Club.

Team Standings

 1. Baylor 302-298-296 = 896 2. Ohio State 301-308-298 = 907 3. Southern Methodist 298-311-299 = 908 4. Nebraska 307-303-304 = 914 5. Missouri 306-303-306 = 915 6. Louisiana State 304-309-308 = 921 7. Kansas 307-309-306 = 922 8. Michigan State 309-312-302 = 923 9. MICHIGAN 308-311-306 = 925 Northwestern 300-310-315 = 925 11. Notre Dame 305-318-309 = 932 12. Illinois State 304-324-307 = 935 13. Kansas State 315-309-313 = 937 14. Texas Tech 327-312-313 = 952

Top Individuals

 1. Lacey Jones, Southern Methodist 72-73-70 = 215 2. Stephanie Ruiz, Nebraska 73-75-71 = 219 3. Meredith Jones, Baylor 76-72-73 = 221 4. Samantha Richdale, Illinois State 70-78-74 = 222 5. Melissa Eaton, Louisiana State 74-76-73 = 223 Alice Kim , Northwestern 70-74-79 = 223 Chelsey Pryor, Kansas 74-75-74 = 223 8. Sian Reddick, Baylor 76-74-74 = 224 9. Suzie Hayes, Notre Dame 73-77-75 = 225 Kelli Strubinger, Missouri 79-74-72 = 225

Michigan Individual Results

T28. Brianna Broderick 74-79-78 = 231 T28. Amy Schmucker 78-77-76 = 231 T33. Ali Stinson 78-79-76 = 233 T36. Kelly Easton 78-76-80 = 234 T44. Lindsay Davis 78-81-76 = 235 T59. Lydia Bentez Coln 79-83-78 = 240* * playing as indiviudal

Q U O T E S

Michigan coach Kathy Teichert

On the tournament ... "I thought this was a very competitive event. There were a lot of great spots for us throughout the weekend. We hit the ball very, very well. We hit it probably better than we actually showed on the scorecards. That makes me feel very optimistic about that. Not being able to chip and putt and have exact tournament conditions was a small worry for us, but our team responded and I am really pleased with their performance all weekend long. Our attitude was excellent and this was a good first step for us."

Senior Amy Schmucker

On the weekend ... "I was incredibly proud o f my teammates especially after coming off of this winter. We had some new people in the lineup and they really played well, I was proud of that.  We finished ninth this weekend, but we were just a few strokes away from moving up in the standings and this is a really, really good field. So, we have to be happy for that. We were striking the ball so well this winter and it really showed here are weekend. We were really on par with everyone down here. As expected our short games was a little off because we can't practice it as much, but we got down here a few days early and really concentrated on that area and we saw some improvements. With the play we got here it can only help us for the rest of the season."

Junior Brianna Broderick

On her tournament performance ... "I have been working hard all this winter and I came out with a really good score. That gave me a lot of confidence and to get that score right out of the gates. It really helped me know that all the hard work I was doing over the winter really helped out."

On looking ahead ... "I am really looking to get back into the swing of things. Getting out on the course. Getting out and playing. The more we can play the more we can get back into that groove. That will only show on the course."

N O T E S

For the sixth straight tournament, Amy Schmucker finished as the top Wolverine in the tournament. In fact, she shared the honor with teammate Brianna Broderick. Both Wolverines tied for 28th with 231 tournament totals.

Amy Schmucker, Brianna Broderick and Ali Stinson have started all six tournament this season.

Lydia Bentez Coln opened her spring season firing a career-best 79, only to lower that in the final round with a 78. Those two rounds marked the first two in her career tallying rounds under 80.

By playing in the 2006 Central District Clasic, Amy Schmucker has played in 42 straight tournaments for the Maize and Blue, while Brianna Broderick and Ali Stinson have played in 30 straight tournaments for the Maize and Blue. Last season, former Wolverine Laura Olin set the U-M record playing in 50 consecutive tournaments.

Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423