Lydia Benitez Colon

Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Dorado, P.R.
High School:
Pendleton School [Fla.]
Swing:
Right

Senior (2008-09) ... Academic All-Big Ten ... U-M Athletic Academic Achievement ... Co-captain ... Started 12 tournaments ... Played in five fall and all seven spring events ... Missed one event after playing with Team Puerto Rico at the World Amateur Team Championships in Australia ... Helped U-M to two team titles – Wolverine Invitational (Sept. 13) and Red Rocks Invitational (Feb. 28-March 1) ... Helped U-M to NCAA Central Regional (May 7-10) appearance, tying for 84th with a 244 total (79-81-84) ... Competed in third Big Ten Championships (April 24-26), tying for 27th with a 322 total (82-80-78-82) ... Ended final season averaging 80.26 strokes per round ... Shot 12-of-34 rounds below 80, with three rounds at-or-below 75 ... Led U-M in one event ... Posted two top-20 finishes, including two top-10, and two top-five ... Posted a career-best finish after tying for second place individually at the Red Rocks Invitational ... Tallied a career-best 18-hole tournament total of 73 at the Wolverine Invitational, which was shortened due to weather ... Tallied a career-best 36-hole tournament total of 151 (76-75) at the Red Rocks Invitational ... Tallied a season-best 54-hole tournament total of 231 (80-77-74) at the Mountain View Challenge (March 28-29) ... Tallied a season-best 72-hole tournament total of 322 (82-80-78-82) at Big Ten Championships ... (2008 Summer): Competed in the U.S. Open qualifier at the Imperial Golf Club, finishing 12th (75) to advance to sectional ... Competed at U.S. Women's Open sectional qualifier at Loblolly Pines, missed advancing (171) ... Competed at U.S. Women's Amateur qualifier, did not advance (80) ... Competed at the U.S. Public Links qualifier at Lake Forest Golf Club, did not advance (80) ... Lost in first round of match play at Trans Amateur Golf Championship at Bent Tree Golf Club … Advanced to match play after tying for 24th (80-76/156) in stroke play ... Lost to Ashley Lance, 2 and 1, in first round ... Competed at the Western Amateur Championship at the Summergrove Golf Club, did not advance to match play (84-79/163) ... Helped team to Caribbean Amateur Championship title at the North Sound Golf Club ... Finished fifth as individual (71-72-79-77/299) ... Medalist at the Taylor Made Adidas Tournament at Forest Akers (76-74/150) ... Medalist runner-up at Taylor Made Adidas Tournament at Firestone Country Club (77-78/155).

Junior (2007-08) ... Academic All-Big Ten ... U-M Athletic Academic Achievement ... U-M Women's Golf Spirit Award ... Co-captain ... Played in all 11 events, with 10 starts ... Competed in second Big Ten Championships, tying for 30th with a 309 total (83-80-69-77) ... Ended third season averaging a career-best 78.09 strokes per round, nearly three and a half strokes better than previous best ... Posted two top-20 finishes, including one top-10 ... Shot 20-of-34 rounds below 80, with eight at-or-below 75 ... Shot a career-best three-under 69 in the third round of the Big Ten Championships (April 25-27) ... Tallied a career-best 54-hole tournament of 228 (74-73-81) at the Wolverine Invitational (Sept. 29-30) ... Tallied a career-best 72-hole tournament total of 309 (83-80-69-77) at the Big Ten Championships ... (2007 Summer): Competed in the Women's U.S. Open qualifier at the Imperial Golf Club, did not advance (79) ... Competed in the U.S. Women's Western Amateur at Stone Creek Golf Club, advanced to the semifinals of the first flight of match play ... Helped team to Caribbean Amateur Championship title ... Team won by 23 strokes, tallied individual round scores of 77-84-74-79/314 ... Competed at Women's Trans National Amateur Championship at the Persimmon Ridge Golf Club, tying for 63rd (81-83/164), lost in playoff for match play spot ... Competed at the FIDRA at Michigan State's Forest Akers West, finishing fifth (77-79/156).

Sophomore (2006-07) ... Academic All-Big Ten ... U-M Athletic Academic Achievement ... Played in five tournaments, with two starts ... Helped U-M to two team titles – Wolverine Invitational (Sept. 30-Oct. 1) and Indiana Invitational (April 9-10) ... Helped U-M to NCAA Central Regional (May 10-12) appearance, did not compete ... Competed in first Big Ten Championships, finishing 66th with a 351 total (94-87-81-89) ... Ended second season averaging a career-best 81.47 strokes per round ... Shot seven-of-15 rounds below 80 ... Shot a season-best 74 in the second round of the SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational (March 10-11) ... Tallied a season-best 36-hole tournament total of 160 (78-82) at the Red Rocks Invitational (March 3-4) ... Tallied a season-best 54-hole tournament total of 233 (75-74-84) at the SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational ... Tallied a season-best 72-hole tournament total of 351 (94-87-81-89) at the Big Ten Championships ... (2006 Summer): Competed at the Trans National Golf Association Amateur Championship at the Stonewall Golf Course (Philadelphia, Pa.) advanced to match play after tying for 40th (81-83/164) in stroke play ... Eliminated in first round by Mika Takayama, 3 and 2 ... Competed in two FIDRA Tour events -- the Ohio Open at Kettering Country Club (75-80/155) and at Forest Akers (85-79/164).

Freshman (2005-06) ... U-M Athletic Academic Achievement Award ... U-M Women's Golf Newcomer Award ... Played in four tournaments, with one start ... Made collegiate debut at the Wolverine Invitational (Oct. 1-2), tying for 27th ... Started first collegiate tournament at the Landfall Tradition (Oct. 28-30), finishing 54th ... Ended first season averaging 81.50 strokes per round ... Shot three-of-12 rounds below 80 ... Shot a season-best 76 in the third round of the Rio Verde Collegiate (March 2-4) ... Tallied a season-best 54-hole tournament total of 240 (79-83-78) at the Central District Classic (Feb. 20-21) ... (2005 Summer): Competed at the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship qualifier (89) ... Medalist at the Puerto Rico Golf Association (PRGA) Island Junior Championship (78-73-81/232) ... Medalist runner-up at the PRGA Women's Amateur Championship (75-79-79/230) ... Third at the Caribbean Junior Championship (78-84-78/240) ... Fourth at the Caribbean Team Championship (72-75-78-81/306) ... Tied for 12th at the Future Collegians World Tour (FCWT) Girl's National tournament (80-78-79/237).

Prep ... Attended Baldwin School (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) for five years (1999-2004) ... Attended Pendleton School, part of David Leadbetter Golf Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) for one year (2004-05) ... Won Academic Excellence Awards in five core courses through high school ... Won Academic Achievement Awards in six core courses through high school ... Recipient of Special Service Award given to one student per grade in 9th and 11th grade ... High Honor Roll all through middle school and high school ... Presidential Award ... 2004 Puerto Rico Island champion and top-ranked junior ... 2004 PRGA Three Kings Invitational champion and winner of Silen Cup ... Three-time member of Puerto Rico's National Team ... Medalist at International Junior Golf Tour Duke Tournament ... Medalist runner-up at 2004 FCWT Naples Junior Championship ... Medalist runner-up at American Junior Golf Association Ashworth ... Member of 2003 Caribbean Team Championships ... Member of Baldwin School's High School team (mixed boys and girls) for three years ... Made All-Star Team of the League in 2003-04 season ... Won Rookie of the Year in 2002-03 season ... Awarded Coaches' Award in 2003-04 season ... National Honor Society throughout high school ... National Junior Honor Society throughout middle school ... Three-year member of Math Club, participated in the school's Math Bowl each year.

Personal ... Given name is Lydia Luz Benítez Colón ... Born September 9, 1987 ... Daughter of Aida Colón and Hector L. Benítez ... Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and Arts ... Biology major..

What's In Benítez Colón's Bag? Driver: Ping Rapture ... Woods: Callaway Big Bertha II ... Irons: Mizuno MP-60 ... Wedges: Titleist Vokey... Putter: Ping Red Wood ... Ball: Titleist Pro-V1x ... Glove: FootJoy ... Favorite Club: Driver ... Favorite Course: Mountain Course (Coco Beach, Puerto Rico) ... Career Best Round: 69 at Penn State Golf Course (State College, Pa.) ... Superstitions: I like to listen to music before the round.