Coming back from its second first-place finish of the year, the
Michigan women’s golf team has high hopes for the upcoming
Indiana Invitational, where it will face five Big Ten teams. Having
seen very little of the Big Ten so far this season, coach Kathy
Teichert looks forward to assessing the competition.
“It will give us a very good idea about how we’re
stacking up and how we might do come the Big Ten
Championships,” Teichert said.
Teichert believes that rival Michigan State and higher ranked
teams Kent State and Missouri will be the Wolverines’ biggest
competition this weekend, but she can’t discount the home
team.
“Indiana has some strong players,” Teichert said.
“They have four seniors, so they’re really a
senior-laden team.”
Familiarity with the golf course also gives Indiana a huge
advantage, with each course being so different.
“They’ve got a lot of par fives and a lot of longer
holes,” Teichert said. “They have a couple big greens,
but there’s a lot of undulation in them and they’re
usually very quick.”
Just three of Michigan’s players have seen Indiana’s
course, so the team’s practice round will be very
important.
“We’re going to go into our practice round and
formulate a game plan and a strategy based upon what kind of shape
(the course is in) and how we’re playing in that particular
moment,” Teichert said.
Teichert believes that the girls who can hit the long ball and
putt well will have the edge this weekend. She hopes junior Laura
Olin’s consistent, powerful shot and experience will lead her
team to another victory.
“Laura’s a long ball striker,” Teichert said.
“She’s been playing very well this spring. She’s
played the golf course three other times. We’re looking for
her to lead us.”
Teichert believes her younger players like sophomore Amy
Schmucker, freshman Brianna Broderick and freshman Ali Stinson will
also play this course well.
“Ali is very consistent when it comes time for hitting the
ball straight,” Teichert said. “She’s not
particularly long and that will be key for her. If she can get up
and down, she can score well at this tournament.”
To prepare Michigan for this tournament, Teichert wants them to
keep playing. She hopes to improve consistency and endurance, so
they can finish each tournament as strongly as they begin.
“We really need to play as much as we can right
now,” Teichert said. “I feel that we haven’t
finished our last four or five holes that well, and we’re
looking to improve upon that.”
Teichert approaches this weekend confidently. She’s proud
of what Michigan has done and is excited to see what more the team
can do.
“I just really feel great about our team right now and the
progress that we’ve made throughout the year,” Teichert
said. “And I’m looking forward to a successful event at
Indiana.”