Wisconsin Hosts Badger Invitational Sept. 10-11
September 04, 2006 | Women's Golf
The 2006-07 Wisconsin women's golf team looks to have a viable chance to move up the ranks in the Big Ten tournament this season as they return four letterwinners and welcome a plethora of newcomers who could have an instant impact on the team.
The Badgers were competitive last season as they finished in the top 10 in half of their tournaments. Wisconsin opened up last fall by hosting the 2005 Badger Women's Golf Invitational. UW's sixth place finish in the event was their highest of the season.
Katie Elliot, who led the team in scoring average last year, is returning for her junior season. A Madison native, Elliot's 77.0 scoring average was good enough to claim eighth place on the UW individual single-season scoring average list. A sixth place tie at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic was Elliot's and the team's best individual tournament finish of the season.
This season, Elliot has her eyes set on some specific goals. 'I think Katie would like to move into an all-conference performer,' said fourth-year head coach Todd Oehrlein, 'and I think she has that potential and that ability. I also know one of Katie 's individual goals is that she wants to win a golf-tournament.'
Despite the loss of senior leaders Jackie Obermueller and Lindsay McMillan, the Badgers will be returning some other key contributors from last season's team. Two sophomores, Isabel Alvarez and Jeana Dahl were welcome additions to last year's squad. Alvarez competed in 16 of UW's 31 rounds, while Dahl posted the team 's third-best scoring average (78.29) and competed in every round for the Badgers. Coach Oehrlein is very optimistic that both will bring a lot to the table for Wisconsin this upcoming year, 'They're going to contribute this year for sure. They 've both had great summers and they've worked very hard on what they 're doing,' Oehrlein continued, 'We are going to lean on those two and they will play well for us, I'm confident.'
That veteran leadership will be important as six new freshmen vie for travel status on this year's team. With only two upperclassmen on the roster Coach Oehrlein will look to some of the freshmen to make key contributions. 'Obviously those young players are going to have to contribute and they're going to have to play and they 're going to have to produce for us.'
The new freshmen class is loaded with talent. Heather Herrick, Ann Marie Sztukowsi, and Kate Wierwill are all red-shirts from last season. Herrick (Hartland, Wis.) helped lead Arrowhead High School to the 2004 WIAA State High School Championship. Sztukowski (Fond du Lac, Wis.) was a four-year all-conference selection and Wierwill, a Verona, Wis. native was the WIAA State High School Champion.
In addition to those three, UW welcomes Heidi Hinners (Middleton, Wis.) who placed among the top five individuals in each of the past four state tournaments from 2001-2005. Also joining the Badgers is Kelsey Verbeten, a Green Bay, Wis., native who was a four-time first team all-conference and academic all-state selection and Beth Weinstein, a two-time first-team all-state honoree and three-time all-conference selection out of Highland Park, Ill.
'There is a lot of talent with the group. There is a lot of potential, ' said Oehrlein, 'and there will be a lot of opportunity for those players to show what they can do on the golf course.'
Everything from the veteran leadership and team chemistry to a talented pool of freshmen has Coach Oehrlein excited about this upcoming season. 'I think the chemisty is as good with this group and as strong as any group we've had so far since I have been here.'
Coach Oehrlein's squad will have their first official practice Sept. 5th, and begin gearing up for their first tournament of the season. The team will hold a 36-hole qualifier to see who will compete for the Badgers when they host the 2006 Badger Women 's Golf Invitational Sept. 10-11th at the par-72, 6,175 yard University Ridge Golf Course in Verona, Wis. The 54-hole tournament starts Sunday with a shotgut at 8:30 a.m. and concludes with 18 holes Monday starting at 8 a.m. Live scoring will be used for the tournament available at golfstat.com.
The Badgers will field a team of five players, counting the top four scores, as well as have up to five others compete as individuals. Joining Wisconsin in the field will be Georgetown, Illinois State, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas State, Louisville, Memphis, Minnesota, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Georgetown is coached by former Badger and Waukesha native Patty Frohna (1996-98).
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