Weather shortens Indiana Invitational as team takes 10th

The IU women's golf team took advantage of its familiarity with the IU Golf Course at this weekend's weather-shortened Indiana Invitational, recording its best tournament finish of the spring, and tying its best finish of the year.\nThe Hoosiers, who slipped from eighth place to 10th on the second day, finished with a two-round total of 645 (327-318). They were led by senior Bethany Brunner (79-79) and freshman Elaine Harris (81-77), each of whom finished in a tie for 15th, with two-round totals of 158.\nThe first round of the tournament was canceled because of wet course conditions on Saturday. After play began the teams battled through a wet course and winds gusting has high as 30 miles per hour. \n"There was a definite home-field advantage (for us)," IU coach Clint Wallman said. "Especially when the weather turned for the worse, playing on our home course was a big benefit." \nAll of the short-game practice in the past two weeks paid dividends for IU as well. Wallman believed before the tournament that it would be won or lost with the short game, and he thought that held true to the end of competition.\n"The teams that scored well were the ones that got up and down," he said. "There were some key putts made, and some key putts not made." \nThis finish gives the Hoosiers confidence and momentum heading into the Lady Buckeye Invitational in two weeks, as well as the Big Ten Championships, Harris said.\n"We've improved so much of the year," she said. "We will keep getting better; this gives us good momentum for the last two tournaments." \nAnother benefit of being at home for a tournament was the slew of supporters and volunteers that came out to encourage the team and help in hosting the tournament.\n"It's nice to have supporters out here, they were very helpful," Brunner said. \nNotre Dame took the tournament championship by nine shots with a team score of 620 (312-308), followed by runner-up Grand Valley State University which shot a 629 (317-312).\nNoriko Nakazaki led Notre Dame to the title as she captured an individual title of her own. She was the leading individual, shooting a 146 (71-75), and squeaking past Natalie Storck of the University of Toledo, who finished one stroke behind with a 147 (74-73).\n-- Contact Staff Writer Jake Brown at jab1@indiana.edu.