Weekly Release #13: U-M Continues Season at Central Regional
5/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
This Week
Thu-Sat., May 7-9 -- at NCAA Central Regional (Columbus, Ohio)
Live scoring -- Central | East | West
NCAA Central Regional | NCAA East Regional | NCAA West Regional
Next on the Tee: It's Regional Time
Extending the postseason! After a seventh-place showing at the 2009 Big Ten Championships, the University of Michigan women's golf team received its seventh NCAA regional bid in the last nine years the next day. The Wolverines will head totheir fifth regional as a team, earning the No. 17 seed and playing the NCAA Central Regional Thursday through Saturday, May 7-9, in Columbus, Ohio, at Ohio State's Scarlet Course. There will be 21 teams and three individuals competing for the chance to move onto the NCAA Finals. The Scarlet Course will be set up for a par 72, 6,246 yards.
The Regional Field
The 21 teams competing in the Central Regional include (in order of seeding): UCLA, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Wake Forest, Louisville, Kent State, Michigan State, Ohio State, Stanford, New Mexico, Georgia State, Notre Dame, N.C. State, Washington, Kentucky, Chattanooga, Michigan, Murray State, Illinois State, Harvard, and Fairleigh Dickinson. The three invited individuals are: Oklahoma's Kendall Dye, Idaho's Kayla Mortellaro and Arkansas Little-Rock's Sara Wikstrom.
The Regional Schedule
| Wednesday, May 6 | Practice Round, tee times, U-M at 11:22 a.m. |
| Thursday, May 7 | First Round (18), tee times at 1 p.m. (No. 10 - Chattanooga, U-M, Murray State) |
| Friday, May 8 | Second Round (18), tee times at 8 a.m. (No. 1 - Chattanooga, U-M, Murray State) |
| Saturday, May 9 | Final Round (18), tee times determined by standing |
The Regional Lineup
Michigan will bring a five-member starting squad to the 2009 NCAA Central Regional. Junior Ashley Bauer(Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) and freshman Milena Savich(Carmel, Ind./Carmel HS) will head up the Wolverine squad. Senior Lydia Bentez Coln(Dorado, Puerto Rico/Pendleton School), sophomore Min Yean Tan(Queensland, Australia/Hills International College) and freshman Brooke Bettis(St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North HS) round out the rest of the five-member team.
The Regional Info
There are three total regional sites, including Ohio State as well as Florida hosting the East regional at the University of Florida Golf Club in Gainesville, Fla., and Arizona State hosting the West regional at the Karsten Golf Course in Tempe, Ariz. From each regional, the top eight teams and the top two individuals not on a qualifying team will advance to the NCAA Championship Tuesday through Friday, May 19-22, at the Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md.
Regional Experiences
Michigan has made seven total NCAA regional appearances, with five coming as a team. U-M first earned a regional bid in 2001, finishing 12th at the East Regional at the Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill, N.C. In 2002, U-M finished sixth at the Michigan State hosted Central Regional advancing, to the NCAA Finals, where the Wolverines finished 17th. The Maize and Blue had two other Central regional appearances -- finishing 15th in 2005 at the Rawls Course in Lubbock, Texas, and finishing 13th in 2007 hosting at the U-M Golf Course. U-M has had two individuals compete at a regional -- Laura Olin at the 2004 Central Regional, tying for 17th, and Amy Schmucker at the 2006 Central Regional, tying for 71st.
Collecting the Hardware
This season, Michigan has recorded six top-five team finishes in the 12 tournaments, including team victories at the rain-shortened 2008 Wolverine Invitational in Ann Arbor, Mich., and at the 2009 Red Rocks Invitational in Sedona, Ariz. The Wolverines also produced one medalist during the season after Ashley Bauer won the Wolverine Invitational with a school-record-tying 68 in the weather-shortened event.
Awards Passed Out
The Wolverines held their postseason dinner where they passed out several team awards. Ashley Bauer was given the Sportswoman Award for the second year, as well as receiving the Spirit Award, which was voted on by her teammates. For the third straight year, Andrea Ratigan was given the Academic Achievement Award for her work off the course, while Milena Savich was given the Newcomer Award and Meagan Bauer was given the Progress Award. With the season extended into the NCAA postseason, the Low Stroke Average Award has yet to be handed out with Ashley Bauer (76.32) and Savich (76.82) in a battle for the honor.
Longevity Continues
Ashley Bauer has yet to miss a tournament in her career at Michigan, playing in 35 straight events. Bauer is one of two Wolverines with a consecutive-event streak along with Min Yean Tan, who has played in 23 straight events. Milena Savich has begun her career starting the first 12 events of the season.
Model of Consistency
Ashley Bauer continues to be the 'model of consistency' for the Wolverines. Her current career average of 76.44 is the best for any golfer in U-M history. In 35 career events, she has posted 20 top-20 finishes, with 13 in the top 10 and six in the top five. Bauer, who leads U-M shooting 76.32 per round, earned her first collegiate win in the season-opening 2008 Wolverine Invitational. Overall, she has six top-10 finishes in 12 events this season.
Give Her Three
The three-under 68 in the only round of the Wolverine Invitational not only gave Ashley Bauer a career best, her first tournament win and entrance into U-M's 68 Club -- a five-member group for lowest round in school history -- it allowed her to set the U-M record for 18-hole tournament score, passing the 70 Kim Benedict had at the 2000 Mary Fossum Invitational. With that record, Bauer now owns three of the four tournament records at U-M. She tied the 36-hole record of 148 at the 2007 Indiana Invitational with three other Wolverines and tied the 54-hole record of 212 at the 2007 Mountain View Challenge -- sharing it with Benedict (2001 Shootout at the Legends).
Keeping the Leaderboard Full
Three times this season the Wolverines have packed the final player leaderboard with almost all players closing among the top 25. The most recent was at the 2009 Red Rocks Invitational, where all five Wolverines closed among the top 25 -- Ashley Bauer and Lydia Bentez Coln tied for runner-up, while Milena Savich tied for seventh, Min Yean Tan tied for 16th and Meagan Bauer tied for 25th. At the 2008 Landfall Tradition, U-M placed four players among the top 25 individually for the second time this season -- Savich (8th), Louisa Shu (t-15th), Tan (t-22nd) and A. Bauer (t-25th). Earlier in the fall, the Wolverines had four players close among the top 25 at the 2008 Wolverine Invitational -- A. Bauer (1st), Bentez Coln (t-4th), Savich (t-9th) and Shu (t-18).
Seeing Really Red Numbers
Ashley Bauer's second-round, one-under 71 at the 2009 Indiana Invitational marked the fourth round this season under par for a Wolverine. In fact, Bauer owns three of the top four rounds this season; she also shot a U-M record tying three-under 68 in the first round of the Wolverine Invitational and a two-under 70 in the first round of the 2009 Mountain View Challenge. Milena Savich holds the other sub-par round with a three-under 69 in the second round of the Landfall Tradition.
Newcomer Impact
Milena Savich has continued to make a strong impact in her freshman season. So far, she has started all 12 events, posting top-10 individual finishes in six events -- including a career-best tie for fourth at the 2008 Challenge at Wolfdancer. She shot a career-best, three-under 69 in the second round of the 2008 Landfall Tradition and set a career best 54-hole tournament total with 224 (72-76-76) at the 2008 Windy City Collegiate Classic. She leads the Wolverines averaging 76.82 strokes per round, which is currently the best average for a freshman in U-M history.
Breaking Through
Min Yean Tan, who has started 23 straight events, had a breakout event at the 2008 Windy City Collegiate Classic, leading the Wolverines for the first time this season finishing tied for fourth with a career-best 221 54-hole total. She tied a career-best with a 72 in the first round. She is third on the Wolverines with a 78.38 average. She has three top-20 finishes this season, with two of them coming in the last four U-M events.
Adding to the Depth
Lydia Bentez Coln has continued to be a staple in the lineup, starting 21 of her last 22 events over the last two seasons. The two-time captain has provided consistent play and leadership. In her final season she is averaging 80.16 strokes per round after starting 10 events -- missing one start after playing in the World Amateur Team Championships in Australia.
Getting the Nod
After playing in four events as an individual, Brooke Bettis started her first collegiate tournament at the 2009 Big Ten Championships. She tied for 45th with a 327 total. She has averaged 81.23 strokes per round and fired a career-best 77, two times -- in the first round of the 2008 Windy City Collegiate and in the second round of the 2099 Big Ten Championships.
Sister Act, Part 2
During the 2007-08 season, the Wolverines had the Davis sisters, Lindsay and Katelin, on the roster. With Lindsay now graduated, this season, the sisterly act continues as Ashley Bauer welcomes her younger sister, Meagan, to the team. Ashley leads U-M with a 76.32 scoring averaging playing in all 12 events, while Meagan played in five events, with four starts.
PLAYER-BY-PLAYER NOTABLES
Senior Lydia Bentez Coln
Named co-captain, along with Ashley Bauer
Helped U-M to five team titles and two runner-up titles during four-year career
Helped U-M to seventh NCAA Regional appearance -- 2009 Central Regional
Played in 31 career tournaments, with 24 starts
Averaging 80.16 strokes per round in final season
Shot a career-best three-under 69 in the third round of the 2008 Big Ten Championships
Career Stoke Average: 79.78
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - 73 at the 2008 Wolverine Invitational ... 36-hole tournament total - 151 (76-75) at the 2009 Red Rocks Invitational ... 54-hole tournament total - 228 (74-73-81) at the 2007 Wolverine Invitational ... 72-hole tournament C 309 (83-80-69-77) at the 2008 Big Ten Championships
Junior Ashley Bauer
Named co-captain, along with Lydia Bentez Coln
2009 All-Big Ten Second Team, ninth Wolverine all-time to earn Big Ten honor
Big Ten Golfer of the Week, after helping U-M to 2009 Red Rocks Invitational team title
Started 35 straight tournaments, has yet to miss a tournament in her career
Helped U-M to four team titles during three-year career
Helped U-M to seventh NCAA Regional appearance -- 2009 Central Regional
Finished as the top Wolverine in 18 of the 35 career events
Posted six top-10 individual finishes in 12 events this season
Won first individual title at the 2008 Wolverine Invitational
Averaging 76.32 strokes per round in third season
Shot a career-best three-under 68 in the first round of the 2008 Wolverine Invitational, tying the U-M record for single round tally and becoming fifth member of U-M's 68 Club
Career Stroke Average: 76.44, currently ranking as the top all-time average at U-M
Sixth Wolverine in U-M golf history to average below 80 strokes in a season as a freshman (77.09)
Holds U-M records for 18-hole, 36-hole and 54-hole tournament totals
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - 68 at the 2008 Wolverine Invitational, setting the U-M record ... 36-hole tournament total - 148 (74-74) at the 2007 Indiana Invitational, tying the U-M record ... 54-hole tournament total - 212 (70-71-71) at the 2007 Mountain View Challenge, tying the U-M record... 72-hole tournament C 301 (74-76-77-74) at the 2008 Big Ten Championships
Sister, Meagan, is a freshman on the Wolverines
Junior Andrea Ratigan
Played in 23 career tournaments, with 19 starts
Helped U-M to four team titles during three-year career
Helped U-M to seventh NCAA Regional appearance -- 2009 Central Regional
Averaging 80.67 strokes per round in third season
Shot a career-best 71 in the second round of the 2007 Mountain View Challenge
Career Stroke Average: 79.12
Seventh Wolverine in U-M golf history to average below 80 strokes in a season as a freshman (79.66)
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - 74 at the 2008 Wolverine Invitational ... 36-hole tournament total - 154 (80-74) at the 2007 Indiana Invitational ... 54-hole tournament total - 222 (76-71-75) at the 2007 Mountain View Challenge ... 72-hole tournament C 317 (76-81-75-85) at the 2008 Big Ten Championships
Sophomore/Freshman Jenn Cleary
Walked onto Wolverines following fall tryouts
Helped U-M to two team titles during career
Helped U-M to seventh NCAA Regional appearance -- 2009 Central Regional
Made collegiate debut as individual at 2008 Wolverine Invitational, tying for 65th
Averaging 84.33 strokes per round in first season
Shot a career-best 82 in the first round at the 2009 Red Rocks Invitational
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - 86 at the 2008 Wolverine Invitational ... 36-hole tournament total - 167 (82-85) at the 2009 Red Rocks Invitational ... 54-hole tournament total - none ... 72-hole tournament C none
Sophomore Katelin Davis
Played in seven career tournaments, with two starts
Helped U-M to two team titles during career
Helped U-M to seventh NCAA Regional appearance -- 2009 Central Regional
Started her first collegiate tournament at the 2007 Lady Northern Invitational
Averaging 82.08 strokes per round in second season
Shot a career-best 74 in the first round of the 2008 Challenge at Wolfdancer
Career Stroke Average: 82.89
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - 76 at the 2008 Wolverine Invitational ... 36-hole tournament total - 165 (79-86) at the 2009 Red Rocks Invitational ... 54-hole tournament total - 247, twice --at the 2008 Challenge at Wolfdancer (74-92-81) and the 2009 Lady Puerto Rico Classic (81-87-79) ... 72-hole tournament C none
Father, Doug, was a four-year letterwinner (1975-78) at U-M and a 1978 All-Big Ten selection
Sister, Lindsay, was a four-year letterwinner (2005-08) at U-M
Sophomore Louisa Shu
Played in 18 tournaments, with 13 starts
Helped U-M to two team titles during career
Helped U-M to seventh NCAA Regional appearance -- 2009 Central Regional
Averaging 79.96 strokes per round in second season
Shot a career-best 73 two times, second and third round of 2008 Landfall Tradition
Set a career-best 36-hole tournament total with a 156 (79-77) at the 2009 Red Rocks Invitational
Set a career-best 54-hole tournament total with a 230 (84-73-73) at 2008 Landfall Tradition
Career Stoke Average: 79.98
Ninth Wolverine in U-M golf history to average below 80 strokes in a season as a freshman (80.00)
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - 77 at the 2008 Wolverine Invitational ... 36-hole tournament total - 156 (79-77) at the 2009 Red Rocks Invitational ... 54-hole tournament total - 230 (84-73-73) C 2008 Landfall Tradition ... 72-hole tournament C 321 (80-78-81-82) at 2008 Big Ten Championships
Sophomore Min Yean Tan
Started 23 straight tournaments, has yet to miss a tournament in her career
Helped U-M to two team titles during career
Helped U-M to seventh NCAA Regional appearance -- 2009 Central Regional
Averaging 78.38 strokes per round in second season
Shot a career-best 72, two times -- first round of the 2008 Windy City Collegiate Classic and the second round of the 2008 Indiana Invitational
Career Stoke Average: 78.00
Eighth Wolverine in U-M golf history to average below 80 strokes in a season as a freshman (77.62)
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - 80 at the 2008 Wolverine Invitational ... 36-hole tournament total - 157 (75-82) at the 2009 Red Rocks Invitational ... 54-hole tournament total - 221 (72-74-75) at the 2008 Windy City Collegiate Classic ... 72-hole tournament C 305 (74-75-77-79) at 2008 Big Ten Championships
Freshman Meagan Bauer
Played in five events, with four starts
Helped U-M to two team titles during career
Helped U-M to seventh NCAA Regional appearance -- 2009 Central Regional
Made collegiate debut as individual at 2008 Wolverine Invitational, tying for 13th
Made first collegiate start at the 2009 Red Rocks Invitational, tying for 25th
Played in first Big Ten Championship, finishing 55th
Started the last four events for the Wolverines
Averaging 81.00 strokes per round in first season
Shot a career-best 74 in the second round at the 2009 Mountain View Challenge
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - 76 at the 2008 Wolverine Invitational ... 36-hole tournament total - 160 (82-78) at the 2009 Red Rocks Invitational ... 54-hole tournament total - 233 (81-74-78) at the 2009 Mountain View Challenge ... 72-hole tournament C 335 (90-77-85-83) at 2009 Big Ten Championships
Freshman Brooke Bettis
Played in five events, with one start
Helped U-M to two team titles during career
Helped U-M to seventh NCAA Regional appearance -- 2009 Central Regional
Made collegiate debut as individual at 2008 Wolverine Invitational, tying for 46th
Made first collegiate start at the 2009 Big Ten Championships, tying for 45th
Played in first Big Ten Championship, tying for 45th
Averaging 81.23 strokes per round in first season
Shot a career-best 77, two times -- first round at the 2008 Windy City Collegiate and second round at the 2009 Big Ten Championships
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - 81 at the 2008 Wolverine Invitational ... 36-hole tournament total - 158 (79-79) at the 2009 Red Rocks Invitational ... 54-hole tournament total - 244 (77-83-84) at the 2008 Windy City Collegiate ... 72-hole tournament C 327 (81-77-82-87) at 2009 Big Ten Championships
Freshman Milena Savich
Started all 12 events this season
Helped U-M to two team titles during career
Helped U-M to seventh NCAA Regional appearance -- 2009 Central Regional
Made collegiate debut and first start at 2008 Wolverine Invitational, tying for ninth
Posted nine top-20 individual finishes in 12 events -- with six among the top 10 and one top-five
Closed as the top Wolverine finisher in six of 12 events
Averaging 76.82 strokes per round in first season, which currently is the lowest by a freshman in U-M history
Shot a career-best three-under 69 in the second round at the 2008 Landfall Tradition
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - 75 at the 2008 Wolverine Invitational ... 36-hole tournament total - 154 (79-75) at the 2009 Red Rocks Invitational ... 54-hole tournament total - 224 (72-76-76) at the 2008 Windy City Collegiate Classic ... 72-hole tournament C 320 (80-78-82-80) at 2009 Big Ten Championships
Did You Know
Michigan has been represented in NCAA regional competition by the U-M team or an individual in seven of the last nine seasons, making team appearances in 2001, 02, 05, 07 and '09. Laura Olin (2004) and Amy Schmucker (2006) have made central regional appearances as individuals. In 2002, the Wolverines finished sixth at the central regional in East Lansing, Mich., to advance to their first NCAA Finals appearance, where the Maize and Blue finished 17th.
Michigan has 30 tournament titles in the history of the program. Of those 30 titles, 24 have come under U-M coach Kathy Teichert. The Wolverines have won 11 during the last six years -- two in 2003-04, four in 2004-05, one in 2005-06, two in 2006-07, none in 2007-08 and two in 2008-09.
Upcoming Schedule
Tue-Fri., May 19-22 -- at NCAA Finals (Owings Mills, Md.)
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
