It's too bad the Mercedes-Benz Women's Golf Championship wasn't just played on Saturday and Sunday. If it was, Michigan would have been sitting pretty, shooting a team total of 38-over par 614 and finishing in fifth place out of 15 teams.

Instead, the 54-hole tournament at the 5,985-yard, par-72 Gettsyvue Golf Course in Knoxville, Tenn. started on Friday morning, and before the Wolverines could even make it to the weekend, they found themselves at 41-over par and in last place.

"We put ourselves in a difficult spot after the first round," Michigan coach Kathy Teichert said. "No one really played well on Friday at all, but they all came back."

It took those two solid rounds of 304 and 310 for the Wolverines to climb up to 12th place, 44 shots behind winner Auburn.

Normally, one bad round in college golf doesn't necessarily take the team out of the tournament. But this was no average tournament, as seven of the country's top 25 teams participated. All seven of those teams finished ahead of No. 42 Michigan.

But Teichert didn't believe the quality of competition affected her team.

"It was a very difficult course," Teichert said. "It was a lot of placement golf. You had to really make sure to avoid the hazards and put it in just the right spot out there."

The Wolverines were led by sophomore Laura Olin. Olin fired a 230 (82-71-77) to finish in a tie for 18th individually. Olin's round of one-under par 71 on Saturday included three birdies and was the first round shot under par by a Wolverine all season.

"I played much better on Saturday because I kept the driver in my bag and just hit three-wood off the tee," Olin said. "(But) the first day was a struggle out there for all of us. We just all played poorly at the same time. I think it took us a while to figure out this course, and just one practice round wasn't enough."

Senior Kim Benedict was the next best for the Wolverines, shooting rounds of 83-74-80 (237). She finished in a tie for 44th. Benedict was followed by freshman Amy Schmucker, who shot rounds of 85-79-75 (239) to finish in a tie for 49th.

Freshman Kelly Easton, making her first career start for the Wolverines, finished tied for 62nd at 27-over par 243.

Teichert was especially happy with the way Easton played.

"Kelly's score helped us in two out of the three rounds and that was just great," she said.

North Carolina's Ashley Prange took home medallist honors, shooting rounds of 72-70-76 (218).

This was the last fall tournament for the Wolverines, and the players won't pick up a golf club again until January. In the meantime, they will go into their winter workout program, which includes lifting weights, getting into better shape and working on their short games.

Michigan won't compete again until February, when it travels to Palos Verdes, Calif. to participate in the TRW Regional Challenge.