Hoosiers return to familiar course

The IU women's golf team will not be traveling far for its next tournament of the fall season. The Hoosiers will hit the links Monday and Tuesday at the Shootout at the Legends in Franklin, Ind. The Legends of Indiana Golf Club will host the event. The tournament will consist of the first two rounds being played Monday with the final round Tuesday.\nThe Hoosiers return to the Legends after a successful tournament there last fall. The team's third place finish was the highest it has posted in the tournament's four-year history. Following last week's fifth place finish at the Lady Northern Invitational, the Hoosiers will look to continue their trends of improvement. \n"The seniors on this team will be the players we will be counting on," IU coach Sam Carmichael said. "They are extremely competitive and have a desire to improve on last season's finish."\nThe Shootout at the Legends means a return home for senior Ambry Bishop. The Franklin, Ind., native played the Legends as her home course in high school. Bishop believes that her experiences give her an advantage, but only a slight one.\n"It is a bit of an advantage because I know how the course plays, and I know where to hit it," Bishop said. "A lot of the girls in the field have played this course before, too, but I do feel comfortable playing there."\nAlso, Bishop's father, Tom Bishop, is the tournament director. Bishop explained that she does not get intimidated by the attention she receives because of her father's position.\n"Any tournament I go to, my parents are there, so it's not any added pressure this week," Bishop said. "My dad may just not get to watch as closely since he has other things to do."\nSenior Karen Dennison has also enjoyed her share of successes at the Legends. Dennison won medalist honors at the Shootout last year, and in the process, set school records for the best 36- and 54-hole individual scores (68-70-74 -- 212). In 2001, Dennison finished in 11th place. \nDennison will look to the Shootout as a chance to regain some confidence in her game after finishing her first two events no better than 23rd place. \n"This is somewhat of a home course for all of us -- we all know the course very well," Dennison said. "(Carmichael) and I have been working really hard this week, and we've figured some things out. My confidence is automatically up because I like this golf course."\nThe Shootout at the Legends will host 16 teams, including defending champion Kent State, Big Ten foes Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and nationally ranked Missouri and Nebraska.\nThe Hoosiers will take six golfers to the Legends. Bishop, Dennison, and fellow senior Danah Ford, along with sophomores Molly Redfearn and Lissa Putnam, will tee up Monday and Tuesday. Senior Mary Lidester will also be joining the team, participating in the event as an individual contestant.\n-- Contact staff writer David Paulen at dpaulen@indiana.edu.