IU already looking forward to Big Ten Tournament

Unlike most other IU sports, women's golf does not have a true Big Ten season. \nHowever, that does not mean the Hoosiers do not look forward to the tournaments with conference teams hosted at Big Ten schools. \nIU women's golf coach Clint Wallman said he recognizes the importance of winning Big Ten games.\n"Any tournament featuring a Big Ten (team) is more important because it affects how you are seeded in the postseason," Wallman said.\nIU opened its Big Ten season on a successful note, defeating the field in the Lady Badger tournament in Madison, Wis. The Hoosiers also played in the Lady Northern Tournament at Michigan State. The team will play in the Wolverine Invitational at Michigan on Sept. 30 and host the Indiana Invitational in April. IU will then close out the season playing at Ohio State in the Lady Buckeye Tournament.\nJunior Gennifer Marrs said she is excited about meeting traditional Big Ten rivals.\n"It is good to play Big Ten teams," Marrs said. "I am definitely very excited about the (Big Ten) tournaments more so than the other ones."\nStill, Wallman said that while conference wins are important, he takes every game seriously.\n"I take every game with a one-tournament-at-a-time approach and think each one is as important as the other," he said.\nIU placed fourth, sixth and 12th in last year's Big Ten tournaments. However, this is Wallman's first recruiting class since becoming IU's coach, and he has much higher hopes for this year.\nMarrs said the fact that the Big Ten tournaments are closer to home makes no difference to her.\n"Distance doesn't matter," she said. "Since we drive to the Big Ten tournaments and fly to the further ones, it ends up being the same distance anyway. Preparations for all tournaments are also similar, so it is not a big impact either way." \nWallman said his team has the potential to win a lot of tournaments this season.\n"I think we have a great team this year that combines youth and experience, and I think we are destined for big things," he said.