Wisconsin Badgers
Big Ten Women's Golf Championship
Badgers collect best Big Ten Championship finish since 2003
April 25, 2010 | Women's Golf
April 25, 2010
MADISON, WIS. - The Wisconsin women’s golf team captured a fourth place finish at the Big Ten Women’s Golf Championships at the par 72, 6,224-yard University of Wisconsin-University Ridge Golf Course on Sunday.
Complete Results from the Big Ten Women's Golf Championships
In the final 18 holes, all 11 teams were forced to battle whirling winds, rain and chilly temperatures at the Madison, Wis. golf course.
The Badgers withstood a challenge by Minnesota, Indiana and Northwestern and carded a 302-289-301-302—1194 in the 72-hole tournament. It was the best UW team-finish in the conference tournament since placing second in 2003 when the team tallied 1,194 strokes and set the school record for 72 holes. The previous record was 1,212 set at the 2000 Big Ten Championships held at University Ridge.
No. 8 Purdue (Golfstat.com) won its third-straight title and fourth in the last five years with a dominating performance. The Boilermakers finished at nine-over for the tournament with a six-over-par 289-282-294--293--1158. Purdue’s finish on Sunday boasts the most recent Big Ten team championship record and the second best 72-hole score for a women's collegiate championship shot at the University Ridge Golf Course.
After slating the second place position in day one and then falling to Ohio State in day two, No. 10 Michigan State finished 27 strokes behind Purdue for the runner-up finish.
Purdue's Laura Gonzalez was the only sub-par round in the final day. The Boilermaker shot a three-under-par 69 for a four-round total 72-70-70-70-69—280. Her score was a Big Ten record, which bested the 281 set by Maria Hernandez of Purdue in 2008. Gonzalez is the third straight conference medalist from Purdue while claiming her first Big Ten individual title. Gonzalez' score also ranks second for University Ridge 72-hole women's collegiate marks.
Michigan's Ashley Bauer, who led the tournament through three rounds, shot a one-over par 73 today for a five-under par 74-65-71-73--283. She set a Big Ten and tied the University Ridge 18-hole record with a second round 65.
MSU's Laura Kueny recorded an even-par 72 in the final round. Aside from completing the tournament with eight birdies and an eagle, the Spartan was among the only competitors to finish under par for the tournament at two-under 72-68-74-72—286.
Wisconsin Junior Carly Werwie started the day in a tie for sixth place after a 143 the first day which included an 18-hole career-best 69. She finished among the top 10 for the tournament with a 10-over par 74-69-77-76—296. The Kenosha, Wis. native was the first Badger to place among the top 10 in the conference since 2004. Her score on Sunday ties the Wisconsin 72-hole record held by Malinda Johnson (2003 Big Ten Women’s golf Championships) and Allie Blomquist (2001 NCAA Championship and 2000 Big Ten Championship).
“Carly (Werwie) did a tremendous job for us all week,” Wisconsin head coach Todd Oehrlein said. “It doesn’t surprise me though. She has been playing well all along. She has been working really hard. I’ve been really impressed with her practices. Her focus has been really good. She seemed like she was really confident going into this weekend. She just got into a good rhythm.”
After coming out with a share of seventh place in tough weather conditions, Werwie is modest but satisfied with her Big Ten championship play. In addition to finishing in the top ten, she also surpassed her previous career-best tournament finish which she obtained on Sept. 28, 2009 at the University Ridge when she tied for 14th place at the Lady Northern Invitational.
“I thought I played pretty well this week,” Werwie said. “I thought that I played a little bit better than what some of my scores were with conditions like they were today. It was pretty windy as well. Overall I am pretty happy with it.”
However, with a fourth place team finish, Oehrlein is impressed with how Wisconsin worked as a team to complete the tournament with a strong finish.
“The team play this weekend,” Oherlein said. “We are really proud of everybody. On different rounds we had four different players contributing all the time. In college golf it is great when you have some depth and you have some balanced contribution. I have been proud of the team all year.”
Wisconsin senior Molly Schemm (Ft. Atkinson, Wis.) gained sole possession of the 20th slot on day three. Along with Werwie, Schemm also carded a four-over-par 74 in the final round for a 72-hole total of 80-74-72-76—302. The senior earned six birdies throughout tournament play.
Freshman Lindsay Danielson finished with a share of 26th place for her career-best tournament finish. In the three day tournament, the Osceola, Wis. native notched a 78-74-76-77—305 to surpass her previous career-best finish which she earned on Feb. 9, 2010 when she tied for 41st place at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic.
Rounding out the team scorecard was senior Kelsey Verbeten (Green Bay, Wis.). Finishing just one stroke behind Danielson, Verbeten improved throughout the tournament and finished with a 77-78-77-74—306. The senior’s score of 74 in the final round was the best fourth round finish for the Badgers.
The Madison, Wis. natives of sophomore Jessie Gerry and freshman Alyssa Elliott finished with a share of 32nd place and 37th place, respectively. Gerry carded a 77-79-76-76—308 and Elliott tallied a 74-72-79-84—309.
Wisconsin was proud and honored to participate in the 2010 Big Ten Women’s Championships on its home course in Madison, Wis.
“It was strong and as good of a Big Ten championship that we have had in a number of years,” Oehrlein said. “A special thanks to the Wisconsin Athletic Department and all of their staff and all of their energy. The golf course staff was unbelievably to work with. For the past year really—leading up to this event and all of the preparation. All of the thought and planning that went into it. I think that we put our best foot forward. The people were very pleased and very impressed.”
Wisconsin Finishers
T7 Carly Werwie (4) 74 69 77 76 296
20 Molly Schemm (1) 80 74 72 76 302
T26 Lindsay Danielson (6) 78 74 76 77 305
T28 Kelsey Verbeten (5) 77 78 77 74 306
T32 Jessie Gerry (2) 77 79 76 76 308
T37 Alyssa Elliott (3) 74 72 79 84 309
Team Scores
1 (#8) Purdue
+6 F +5 289 282 294 293 1158
2 (#10) Michigan State
+33 F +14 296 290 297 302 1185
3 (#12) Ohio State
+37 F +21 294 293 293 309 1189
4 Wisconsin
+42 F +14 302 289 301 302 1194
5 Indiana University
+53 F +20 304 295 298 308 1205
6 (#40) Northwestern Univ.
+54 F +21 300 295 302 309 1206
7 Minnesota, U. of
+56 F +26 303 297 294 314 1208
8 Michigan
+76 F +29 311 301 299 317 1228
9 Illinois, U. of
+78 F +23 309 307 303 311 1230
10 Penn State Univ.
+90 F +36 304 305 309 324 1242
11 Iowa, U of
+103 F +36 314 313 304 324 1255
Players Mentioned
