The spring season for the Michigan women's golf team has had its highs and lows, but the Wolverines are far from discouraged as they head into the Big Ten championships.
Throughout the five tournaments of the season, the Wolverines have seen steady improvements and a lot of consistency, even if the final standings are not reflective of it.
The team gave its best performance of the season at the Boilermaker Invitational. Michigan finished second (630), only four strokes behind host Purdue (626).
Michigan coach Kathy Teichert said she is pleased with the effort of the team and is very optimistic for a strong finish for the season.
"Everybody is becoming stronger and stronger, and we've steadily improved throughout the season," Teichert said. "Right now we are working on the mental aspects of the game, and we are also focusing on our short game as well. Our goal is to finish in the upper half of the Big Ten, so everyone has to be focused and on top of their game. Every shot is critical."
The team relies on strong performances from senior Wendy Westfall and sophomore Sharon Park, who are potential members of the All-Big Ten team. Westfall and Park have been alternating in the role of top finisher for the Wolverines throughout the spring season. Westfall tied for second place overall at the Invite, with a two-day total of 156.
"I've had a rough spring," Park said. "I am making some changes, because I want to improve from last year's Big Ten tournament. As a team, we have a lot more potential than we display, but we all need to play well to have a solid finish."
Three other seniors have been solid competitors for the Wolverines this season. Jodi Smith, who shot 175, Ashley Williams, who shot 162, and Molly Vandenbark - who shot a season-low 73 on the first day and an 85 on the second for a total of 158 in West Lafayette - have all contributed.
"The seniors have been instrumental in changing this program around," Teichert said. "They are all getting to the next level of play, and I hope they leave with good feelings about their play while they were here."
The play of junior Nicole Green has steadily improved and has been a key part of the Wolverines' totals. Green had a hole-in-one at the par-three sixth hole to help her total of 164 at the Invite.
The Wolverines not only have the momentum from the Boilermaker Invite to carry them into the Big Ten championships, they also have overwhelming support for each other.
"We have great team chemistry and the girls are supportive of each other out there on the course," Teichert said. "We are looking forward to Big Tens, and with solid play and our great unity we can do well."
The Big Ten championships will be May 2-4 in East Lansing, with the top four of six scorers compiling each team's total. The six Wolverines in the contest will be Westfall, Park, Vandenbark, Green, Williams and Laura Hess, who just recently clinched the final spot on the roster.