Michigan
Big Ten Championships
Wolverines Seventh After 36-holes of Big Ten Tourney
4/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
EAST LANSING, Mich. C- With chilly overcast conditions effecting the entire field, the University of Michigan women's golf team closed the first day of the Big Ten Championships with two players among the top 15 individually and a seventh place team position, posting a 636 total at host Michigan State's Forest Akers West Course. The Maize and Blue opened with a team total of 319 in the first round and followed with a 317 in the second round.
Seniors Brianna Broderick (Richmond, Mo./Richmond HS) and Ali Stinson (Penticton, British Columbia/Penticton Secondary) battled throughout the first 36 holes and found themselves both tied for 14th with 157 36-hole totals. After opening with a 79 in the first round, Broderick closed with a 78 to sit two strokes out of the top 10. Stinson opened with an 81 but rallied in the second round, tallying a U-M first day-best total of 76.
Competing in her first Big Ten Championship, freshman Ashley Bauer (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) closed the first 36-holes in a tie for 34th along with junior Lindsay Davis (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) with 161 first day totals. Bauer opened with an 80 and followed with an 81, while Davis opened with a 79 and tallied an 82 in the second round.
Freshman Andrea Ratigan (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HS) sits in the 63rd spot after the first day with a 177 total in her first conference tournament. She posted rounds of 90 and 87 on the first day. Sophomore Lydia Bentez Coln (Dorado, Puerto Rico/Pendleton School) is 65th with a 181 total after rounds of 94 and 87.
Host Michigan State used the home course advantage to take a 17-stroke lead after the first day of play, as the Spartans fired back-to-back team totals of 300. Purdue (309-308) sits in second at 617, while Northwestern (313-307) is third at 620. Pacing the way for MSU was Rachel Meikle, who posted back-to-back sub-par rounds to hold a seven-stroke lead individually with a four-under 140 total (71-69). Purdue's Christel Boeljon is second at 147 (72-75), while MSU's Mandi McConnell is third at 149 (74-75).
With 36-of-72 holes in the books, the Wolverines will retake the championship course Saturday (April 28) for the third round's 18 holes . Tee times are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., with teams starting off on No. 1 or No. 10. The Maize and Blue will be among the first groups to tee off No. 10 at 10:30 a.m. The Wolverines will be paired with Wisconsin and Iowa for the third round.
Team Standings
1. Michigan State 300-300 = 600 2. Purdue 309-308 = 617 3. Northwestern 313-307 = 620 4. Ohio State 313-309 = 622 5. Indiana 311-315 = 626 6. Illinois 320-314 = 634 7. MICHIGAN 319-317 = 636 8. Wisconsin 317-322 = 639 9. Iowa 319-323 = 642 10. Penn State 327-321 = 648 Minnesota 322-326 = 648
Top Individuals
1. Rachel Meikle, Michigan State 71-69 = 140 (-4) 2. Christel Boeljon, Purdue 72-75 = 147 3. Mandi McConnell, Michigan State 74-75 = 149 4. Anita Gahir, Indiana 75-76 = 151 Alice Kim, Northwestern 78-73 = 151 6. Sara Brown, Michigan State 77-77 = 154 Maria Hernandez, Purdue 80-74 = 154 8. Dana Je, Ohio State 74-81 = 155 Meghan Naik, Illinois 81-74 = 155 Gemma Webster, Ohio State 79-76 = 155
Michigan Individuals
T14. Brianna Broderick 79-78 = 157 T14. Ali Stinson 81-76 = 157 T34. Ashley Bauer 80-81 = 161 T34. Lindsay Davis 79-82 = 161 63. Andrea Ratigan 90-87 = 177 65. Lydia Benitez Colon 94-87 = 181
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
