Rain gear and ski caps replaced the Michigan women”s golf team”s usual garb as the Wolverines braved a nasty wind and frigid temperatures to blow away the rest of the nine-team field. Besides making it impossible to stay warm, the winds wreaked havoc on the putting green. Players had to fight to stay positive as they watched their scores soar.
- Paul Wong
- Misia Lemanski won her first collegiate title at the Wolverine Invitational.<br><br>LESLIE WARD/Daily
“It”s really easy to get frustrated because there”s going to be a lot of shots left out on the course,” senior LeAnna Wicks said. “You basically just had to try and stay in the present and just focus.”
Michigan brushed off the brutal conditions and finished with a 623 total, 38 shots in front of Eastern Michigan. It was Michigan”s second title in as many outings this year, and the first time since 1991 that the Wolverines won their own tournament.
In a display of the Wolverines” depth, Michigan”s Maize team, composed of the team”s bottom four players, placed third and seven Michigan players finished in the top 10.
Coach Kathy Teichert was especially happy for her five seniors Misia Lemanski, Cortney Reno, Bess Bowers, LeAnna Wicks and Stephanie Bezilla.
“Being that this is the last home event that they could have, that makes it really special,” Teichert said. “So it was great to be able to showcase their talent and where they”ve come from.”
Lemanski shot a two-day total of 152 to earn an individual title for the first time in her career. She started Sunday”s round on top of the leaderboard and drained long par putts on the second and seventh holes to maintain her lead.
“Misia has really, really worked hard,” Teichert said. “I”ve seen a lot of good things from Misia, so I”m really excited to see her hang in there and play well.”
Eastern”s Kelly Pickett finished second in the individual scoring, and Michigan”s Reno,Wicks, and Kim Benedict tied for third.
After celebrating the victory yesterday, Michigan headed to Franklin, Ind. to finish out a 90-hole marathon at the Women”s Collegiate Invitational. The Wolverines will face an early start and 36 holes today, followed by tomorrow”s 18-hole final round.
Michigan likes the course at The Legends of Indiana, and is excited to face a stronger field. Seven Big Ten teams will compete,
The Michigan players know that competing for four consecutive days will be exhausting, but the momentum from their Wolverine Invitational title and their quest to win three tournaments in a row should carry them.
“Yeah, our bodies will be tired and we”ll be a little bit mentally drained, but we just have to tell ourselves only two more day”s of golf left,” Lemanski said.