Ten new golfers for Michigan

With the loss of two seniors and a disappointing season last year, the Michigan women's golf team is looking forward to a fresh start this year with nine freshmen and a junior transfer.

The Wolverines are limited in experience this season with just two upperclassmen - senior captain Sharon Park and junior Tera Hamo. Michigan coach Kathy Teichert said she is counting on Park and Hamo to set the example for the younger team members; she is relying on their experience to carry Michigan through the season, she said.

"I expect Sharon, as the captain, to show a lot of leadership - we need her to lead by example by posting low scores," Teichert said. "She is very accomplished and has an exceptional short game and she can show the freshman how finesse is extremely important."

Park could conceivably be a contender for a Big Ten championship. For the past two years, she has been Michigan's best golfer, and last year averaged 78.42 per round.

"I do not know how good of a leader I can be, but I am definitely going to try my best," Park said. "We're one team - no one person sticks out, but if my experience will help, or I can help support the players or the coach, I will."

Teichert still has not decided on the final roster for the team, nor has she selected who will be traveling to Michigan State this weekend to compete in the Spartan Invitational.

"The longer we are able to practice, the more we will be able to learn about each of the individual players," Teichert said. "I cannot even say right now who is in the top five, so there is a lot of nervousness among the players."

At this point, Michigan's greatest advantage with a new team is that it can let go of the disappointments of last season and focus on a new beginning.

"All the new faces allow us to make a fresh start," Park said. "The coach is taking the time to recruit really good players, and hopefully soon we will be able to find a good set of five or six to travel and put (Michigan's) name back out there."

Teichert said that the loss of the two seniors from last year - Nicole Green and Laura Hess - can be made up in part by the freshmen because it will make the team more competitive and everyone will try to step up their games.

"The players are all so strong and very competitive. They have great work ethic and desire - they want to push themselves, which is definitely good for the team," Teichert said.

Some of the freshman that could prove helpful to the Wolverines are Lindsey Mammel, Misia Lemanski, Bess Bowers, LeAnna Wicks, Courtney Reno, Stephanie Bezilla, Jennifer Pollock and Stephanie MacAdams.

"It's true that with new faces come inexperience, but if they adjust quickly from high school golf to college golf, we should be okay," Park said.

09-09-98