Golfers to host invite with 10 Big Ten teams

There is no place like home for the Michigan women's golf team, which is playing its first and only home match this upcoming weekend. This Saturday and Sunday, the Wolverines will host the annual Wolverine Invitational at the Michigan golf course.

In just the third match of this early season, the team is already looking to make a turnaround. Last weekend in West Lafayette, at the Lady Northern Intercollegiate, the Wolverines placed 10th in a 14-team field.

Senior captain Sharon Park was the ladies' top finisher in the competition, tying for 31st, with a final score of 247.

"We need strong performances from our upperclassmen," Michigan coach Kathy Teichert said. "Our experienced golfers will need to really step it up, adding a sense of strong leadership."

There is still a lot of choosing to be done. Currently, the women are in a midweek qualification process. In the days leading up to the invitational, each golfer competes against all others for the right to participate as one of six starters in this weekend's match.

Surprisingly enough, it is the newcomers who are stealing the spotlight.

Finishing close behind Park were freshman Bess Bowers and Misia Lemanski. Bowers finished in a tie for 35th, with a three-round score of 249. While Lemanski finished one shot shy of Bowers and tied for 40th, it was another freshman standout, Stephanie Bezilla, who shot a final score of 268, tying her for 69th place.

"Our putting is gradually improving as we progress in the season," Teichert said. "The entire team is improving on their course management skills. Exactly where to place the ball is a very essential skill to possess as a golfer."

Michigan State, which won last weekend's Lady Northern Intercollegiate, is expected to attend, as are 10 of 11 Big Ten teams.

The Spartans dominated the Wolverines, defeating them by a total of 56 shots. Fortunately for Michigan, Indiana, last weekend's second-place finisher, will not be competing at the Wolverine Invitational. The Wolverines are beginning to foresee this weekend as a possible grudge match.

The Wolverine are very optimistic about their chances for this weekend.

"I feel that our team can have a major impact on the outcome of the invitational," Teichert said. "Obviously we would like to win, but I would like for each member to seize any opportunity for improvement."

This year's invitational begins with two rounds of golf on Saturday. The tournament will conclude with a final round Sunday, with tee times for both days scheduled at 9 a.m.

Last year the par 73, 5,960-yard course seemed to help the Wolverines, who finished 6th overall.

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