2005-06 GFW at Big Ten Championships -- Notes & Quotes
4/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Q U O T E S
Michigan coach Kathy Teichert
On the Big Ten Championships ... "Overall, we had a really successful tournament. We were right there the entire time and that is all you can ask for sometimes. We came here with some goals in mind and achieved a majority of them. We did have some opportunities lost out there, but we competed from the onset. I am proud of the way they handled themselves throughout the entire championship. Amy (Schmucker) really showed her experience to lead us throughout the weekend. Lindsay (Davis) was huge for us this weekend. She obviously had a fantastic Big Ten Championship as a sophomore. Her future is definitely bright. I would even say Julie (Inwood) getting that 74 and Kelly (Easton) shooting a 73 in the first round really jumped started the tournament for us. It really showed that we were ready to play from top to bottom. There were a couple of holes that we didn't play well where I felt in the long run cost us, but overall I think this weekend was a success. I think the girl's will leave this weekend on a high note. The outlook for us is very high."
On the play of senior Amy Schmucker ... "She was just awesome all weekend. She is such a competitor. I told her we needed to finish strong and she really took a hold of that and did exactly what we needed her to do. She is so calm, cool and collected out there. It was a real nice way for her to finish her Big Ten career."
On if she thinks the Wolverines will get an NCAA bid ... "I don't know. I am optimistic. We have a really good shot at it. It is going to come down to some of the automatic qualifiers, but tomorrow at 4 p.m. we will get the call whether we are in or not."
Senior Amy Schmucker
On the Big Ten Championships ... "I am just really proud of the team. We came in seeded sixth and finished fourth. We knew that if we are going to have any chance at a regional bid we needed to finish at least fourth. We did that. It was a total team effort throughout the weekend. Everyone's scores were counting. If someone had a bad round, someone else stepped up and had a good round. It was just such a strong finish and great team effort for us."
On her Big Ten Championships ... "I just had a lot of missed opportunities. I never felt I was hitting the ball really crisp, but I probably hit more greens than any other tournament. I just could buy a putt. If they were for sale, I couldn't come close to buying them. I just missed some many putting opportunities. The Big Ten Championship is my favorite tournament. It is such a good way to go out, but it just wasn't my time. It was Alice Kim's."
On the emotions of playing in her final Big Ten Championships ... "The last hole I three putted and I didn't think I was going to be that emotional. When I walked off the green and saw coach, I just started sobbing. I was like 'okay, it really has sunk in." Seeing Kelly, the only other senior there and then my parents who have been there every step of the way for me for four straight years, I couldn't help but cry. It was an emotional time."
Sophomore Lindsay Davis
On the Big Ten Championships ... "We just complimented each other all weekend long. We did what we needed to do by beating Indiana and Northwestern. We definitely didn't play to our full potential, which is kind of disappointing, but we did what we came here to do and I feel good about that."
On her second Big Ten Tournament performance ... "I played extremely well. It was a personal best for me for the entire tournament so I am proud of that. I learned a lot each round and became a better player as the tournament went on. I was definitely more comfortable out there after gaining the experience of playing in a tournament like this last year."
N O T E S
Michigan's fourth place finish at the Big Ten Championships marks the third straight year with a top five team finish. The Wolverines had the highest team finish last season with the runner-up spot (2005) and tied for fifth in 2004.
Michigan's 1,202 72-hole total at the 2006 Big Ten Championships team total was the second best in the program's history. The Wolverines all-time top mark set at the 2003 championship tournament with a 1,194 total.
Following the championship, Amy Schmucker was named to the All-Big Ten second team for her performances all season. She becomes just the eighth Wolverine in history to receive the conference accolade. She was also honored as she received the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for Michigan.
Amy Schmucker's fifth place individual finish at the Big Ten Championships is the second best individual finish for a Wolverine at the conference tournament. LeAnna Wicks holds the all-time best finish as she tied for the runner-up spot in the 2002 tournament.
Amy Schmucker's fifth place finish and Lindsay Davis' 11th place showing marks the fourth time in the program's history the Wolverines had at least two players finish among the top 12 at the conference championship. Last year, the Wolverines set the all-time mark placing three in the top 12, as Brianna Broderick was ninth, Schmucker was 10th and Laura Olin was 11th. The other two occasions were in 1997 with Sharon Park and Wendy Westfall both tying for seventh and in 1996 as Westfall and Katy Loy both tied for 10th individually.
Amy Schmucker's 294 72-hole total and Lindsay Davis' 299 total at the Big Ten Championships mark just the second and third time that a Wolverine has finished a 72-hole tournament with an under 300 individual total. The only other Wolverine to do so was Bess Bowers (291 total) at the 2002 NCAA Championships.
Amy Schmucker's 294 four-round total at the 2006 Big Ten Championships smashed her previous best 72-hole tournament total. Her previous best was a 308 total at the 2003 championship.
Amy Schmucker's second round tally of one-under 71 marked her fourth career round under par and her third of the season. It was also a career-best Big Ten Championships single round total after she topped the 74 she has posted three times in her career, including two in the first two rounds in 2006.
With her fifth place finish at the 2006 Big Ten Championships, Amy Schmucker has led the Wolverines in nine of 11 tournaments this season. She has nine top 20 finishes, five top 10 and three top five finishes on the year.
Kelly Easton and Julie Inwood both made their postseason debuts in their Michigan careers by playing in their first Big Ten Championship tournament this weekend.
Kelly Easton's first round one-over 73 set a new career-best for a single round tournament total. She topped a pair of 74s she posted during the regular season -- the third round of the SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational (March 11-12, 2006) and the second round of the Illini Spring Classic (April 14-15).
Julie Inwood's first round two-over 74 set a new career-best for a single round tournament total. She topped the 76 she had in the first round of the Northwestern Invitational (April 3-4, 2006).
Ali Stinson's 312 four-round total at the Big Ten Championships set a career-best mark for a 72-hole tournament. She eclipsed the 322 total she had at the 2004 conference tournament.
By playing in the 2006 Big Ten Championships, Amy Schmucker has played in 47 straight tournaments for the Maize and Blue, while Brianna Broderick and Ali Stinson have played in 35 straight tournaments for the Maize and Blue. Last season, former Wolverine Laura Olin set the U-M record playing in 50 consecutive tournaments.
Players Mentioned
