Hoosiers head to NCAAs for first time in Wallman era

The IU Women’s Golf Team is in unfamiliar territory in a familiar place.\nThe Hoosiers have advanced to the NCAA Central Regional in Ann Arbor, Mich., for the first time in IU head coach Clint Wallman’s tenure. \n“I am very excited (to make it here),” Wallman said. “This is a great reward for a successful season.” \nThis is not IU’s first time playing at the University of Michigan Golf Course this season. The Hoosiers competed in the Wolverine Invitational on September 30 and October 1 and tied for fourth place. In that tournament, three Hoosiers placed in the top 20, with freshman Laura Nochta placing seventh, her highest finish of the season. \nBut the stakes are even higher this time, as the Hoosiers must place in the top eight to advance to the NCAA Championships in Daytona Beach, Fla., on May 22. \nWallman thinks finishing that high is a possibility.\n“Postseason is a brand new season, so you have the opportunity to do anything here,” he said. \nThe Hoosiers are coming off a solid fifth-place finish in the Big Ten Tournament that gave them their fifth top five-finish in 11 tournaments this year. In that tournament, freshman Anita Gahir placed 15th to pace the Hoosiers for the second time this season. \nThis weekend, the NCAAs will begin at 8 a.m. each day, and live stats will be available on golfstat.com throughout the tournament’s duration.\nCompeting for the Hoosiers will be Gahir and Nochta, as well as freshman Kellye Belcher and juniors Lauren Harling and Elaine Harris. This lineup is similar to the one the Hoosiers used in the Wolverine Invitational, except that Harling will now fill the position previously occupied by sophomore Tara Boone. Harling entered the Hoosier lineup in January after she transferred from North Carolina State and has played in every tournament since donning the Cream and Crimson colors. \nThis tournament, the Hoosiers will compete in a field of 21 teams, the largest they have faced this season, including Big Ten rivals Northwestern Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State.\nConsidering the large scope of the field, Wallman said he will still be upbeat if the Hoosiers season ends on Saturday. \n“Anytime you’re selected for postseason play, you are successful,” Wallman said. “This is the best season here in my three years here at IU.”