Badger golfers finish fall season strong
November 30, 2009 | Women's Golf
Nov. 30, 2009
MADISON, Wis. - After the Wisconsin women's golf team finished its fall season with four top-six finishes including a win at the Johnie Imes Invitational in Columbia, Mo., it is safe to say that Head Coach Todd Oehrlein is proud of the team's performance. UW also placed in the top six at the Cougar Classic from Sept. 13-14 (6th/18 teams), Lady Northern Invitational from Sept. 27-28 (6th/15 teams) and the Alamo Invitational from Oct. 26-27 (5th/12 teams),
At Missouri, the team tallied a 909 (309-299-301) to notch its first 54-hole victory in almost 10 years. The last time the Badgers recorded a top position was on October 19, 1999, at the Bale Chevrolet-Honda Invitational in Little Rock, Ark., when the team carded a 904.
The team also set the school 54-hole team scoring record twice and bettered the school 18-hole team record as well with a 284 at the Challenge of Onion Creek. UW first set the 54-hole mark with a 288-295-295--878 in the opening round of the fall at the Cougar Classic in Hanahan, S.C. That number was reset with a 295-284-291--870 at the Challenge at Onion Creek in Austin, Tex.
Oehrlein believes the first place finish is representative of the team's ability to work together and push each other to remain consistent throughout each hole.
"It was a good start, we had a really good fall season," Oehrlein said. "It was great to get a win at Missouri. Wins don't come easily so that was obviously very exciting. Also, we had pretty decent balance most of the year and that's going to be pretty key going into the spring season. They have all stepped up at different times in the fall and they are all going to have to step up at different times in the spring."
Sophomore Jessie Gerry (Madison, Wis.) led the team in the fall season, averaging 73.85 strokes per round. Gerry improved her freshman average by three strokes after recording a 80.0 strokes per round in 2008-09. Gerry's best finish came at the Alamo Invitational where she placed third overall. She also set the school 54-hole record with a 72-70-72--214 tying for seventh at the Cougar Classic in South Carolina.
Senior Molly Schemm (Fort Atkinson, Wis.) also made strong improvements this season. The Northern Iowa transfer is competing a second season for the Badgers. This fall she second in scoring averaging 74.54 per round ahead of her 78.0 strokes per round in the 2008-09.
Coach Oehrlein not only credits Gerry and Schemm's fall performance, but the team's consistent cohesion throughout the fall season.
"Molly and Jessie were certainly consistent and played very well throughout the fall season," Oehrlein explained. "I think one of the things that contributed toward our success is that we have a really nice mix and an excellent balance. Just within grades and classes they are all doing well."
Not only is the team working together to make each other better, the variety of ages and experience is what gives the team a unique touch. Senior Kelsey Verbeten and junior Carly Werwie add additional upperclassmen to the mix and freshman Alyssa Elliott brings a new face to the group.
"We have a couple seniors and a junior, sophomore and freshmen who are all very supportive of each other but challenge each other," Oehrlein said.
Elliott finished with an exceptional true freshman season. She rounded out the end of her fall campaign with a 217 (72-72-73) in the Challenge at Onion Creek from Nov. 2-3 at the Onion Creek Golf Club in Austin, Texas.
Oehrlein believes her commitment to the team right from the start of her career is what fueled her success.
"Alyssa had a great fall," Oehrlein said. "For a true freshman to come in and perform as consistently as she did is great. I think part of her success is not only her ability and her talents but her mindset going into the year. She was very focused and in her mind she had an expectation that she was going to play right away. Overall she played very consistently in a lot of golf."
Coach Oehrlein hopes that with consistency across the boards from the freshmen to the seniors during spring preparation, the Wisconsin women's golf team can have a successful spring season.
The Badgers have plenty of preparation time before hitting the green to tee-off the from February 7-9 at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic in Grande, Puerto Rico.
