Fall debut to show preparation

The IU women's golf team will travel to East Lansing, Mich., this weekend for their first tournament of the year, the Mary Fossum Invitational. The first and second rounds begin Saturday at the Forest Akers West Golf Club, with the final round concluding on Sunday. \nThe Hoosiers have won the event twice, in 1997 and 1999. The Hoosiers have not played in the tournament since 2000, opting to withdraw from the tournament in 2001 due to the Sept. 11 attacks. \nThe team will look to its veteran presence for leadership this weekend, as three of the starting five have played at Forest Akers before. Seniors Ambry Bishop, Karen Dennison and Danah Ford all played in the Fossum Invite in 2000. Dennison and Ford also competed at the 2001 NCAA West Regionals held in East Lansing. Ford said she feels comfortable returning to the course.\n"It's a really good course, and in some ways, like ours," Ford said. "There are some challenging holes, but you just have to know where to miss it, and take it shot by shot." \nEntering the first tournament of the year, coach Sam Carmichael said he believes the success of several players over the summer has made the team ready to play well this weekend.\n"The women have been playing all summer, so there is no reason why we shouldn't go up there and have a really fine tournament, and they should play up to their abilities," Carmichael said. "Most of the women are seniors and have played up there before, so I expect them to have an excellent tournament."\nLeading the charge for the Hoosiers is Dennison, who had an impressive summer. After earning First Team All-American honors last spring, Dennison won the 80th Indiana Women's State Amateur in July by five strokes. She also accepted a sponsor's exemption to play in the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic in June.\nComing into this fall, Dennison was named to the Preseason All-American Second Team and has been ranked as high as the no. 6 female golfer in the country.\n"I put that in the back of my mind," Dennison said. "I don't want to put pressure on myself. I've been told about (the rankings), and I dismiss it as if I didn't know it, so I can go into the tournament with an open mind, and not think about it too much."\nWith all the attention directed toward Dennison, Ford said she and her teammates feel no pressure playing with Dennison and do not set out to play better than her once the season comes around.\n"I really stick to my own game, and I know (Karen) does too," Ford said. "The entire team does, knowing that our scores are going to count for the team. We're patient with each other, and act as a team in that way."\nThe 54-hole event is host to 15 teams, including four that advanced to the 2003 NCAA Regionals: IU, Kent State, Michigan State and Wisconsin. Kent State and Wisconsin both moved on to the NCAA Championships. Carmichael feels that, despite the competition this weekend, the team always play with the goal to win the tournament.\n"I'm not aware of who other teams have coming back, but we go up there with the expectations of playing well and winning the tournament," Carmichael said. "Not that we will win, be that is what we think we can do, and I'm sure that if you ask the girls, they feel like they can win the tournament."\n-- Contact staff writer David Paulen at dpaulen@indiana.edu.