Armed with strong leadership and a tight team bond, the Michigan
women’s golf team heads to Columbus on Friday for the Big Ten
Tournament.
After a disappointing sixth place last weekend at the Lady
Boilermaker Invitational, the Wolverines are geared up for a
rematch with the Big Ten teams.
Coach Kathy Teichert believes the Wolverines can be competitive
with favorites Michigan State and Ohio State if every player can
play well in every round.
“There are so many teams that can be beat,” Teichert
said.
“It all depends on who’s
hot that particular weekend. We can be hot. We just
haven’t put three solid rounds together.
I feel like we have so much talent on our team that, when they
can put it all together, nothing’s going to stop
them.”
To pull it all together at the Big Tens, this young Michigan
team will need strong leadership from junior captain Laura Olin,
both on and off the course.
“We have an extremely young team playing, and so the
freshmen and sophomores are still looking to me to lead
them,” Olin said. “I’m the one who says,
‘Let’s get fired up’ before we play.”
Averaging 76.47 strokes per round, Olin has found herself at the
top of the scoreboard twice this season. She has led the Wolverines
in scoring in 10 out of 11 tournaments so far.
Olin will have to continue to be strong mentally and strike the
ball consistently all weekend.
“Every time she tees it up we’re counting on her for
her scores,” Teichert said. “Her striking capability
and the number of greens she hits are the best on the
team.”
Olin can’t win the tournament on her own; freshmen Brianna
Broderick and Ali Stinson and sophomore Amy Schmucker will all have
to step up their games this weekend. Teichert has asked a lot of
these young players.
With a season low of 73, Broderick averages 79.56 strokes per
round. She is the only player who has topped Olin at all this
season. Teichert believes that the 11 tournaments she’s
competed in have really helped her mentally.
“I think that (Broderick’s) confidence level has
significantly increased,” Teichert said.
Stinson has played in every tournament and has broken 80 in 13
out of 32 rounds, finishing in the top 10 three times this
season.
“Ali’s consistent,” Teichert said. “She
consistently hits the ball down the middle. I think her length has
improved.”
Schmucker earned her best career finish at the Wolverine
Invitational this season, placing third. She has averaged 78.28
strokes per round. As a sophomore, she must support Olin as a
leader on the team.
“Amy is a true competitor,” Teichert said. “We
know that we have to count on her every time. She has the ability
to shoot some really low numbers.”
All these girls say that their bonds with their teammates have
really motivated them to improve this season.
“We’re a team,” Broderick said.
“Everything is great among us. The chemistry is fantastic.
Coach Teichert has brought in a great bunch of girls.”