No. 30-ranked women's golf ties for 2nd at season opener in Michigan

The IU women’s golf team lived up to increased expectations this weekend, earning a second-place tie at the Mary Fossum Invitational in East \nLansing, Mich.\nComing off of their first national championship appearance since 1998, the Hoosiers looked poised to return. IU placed all of its golfers in the top 30 over the weekend. \nLeading the way for the No. 30 Hoosiers were senior Elaine Harris and sophomore Laura Nochta, who both tied for \nsixth place. \n“I was very happy with my play today and pretty pleased overall,” Nochta said. “We were disappointed we didn’t get a victory, but we gave (Michigan State) a run for their money and can take what we learned today into the next tournament.”\nHarris said she was upbeat despite the fact that IU failed to win the tournament.\n“We wanted to win as a team, but we played well and have a good perspective where we are at,” Harris said. “Individually, I am really excited with what I can do this year, and being a senior gives me a new prospective.”\nAlso competing for the Hoosiers were sophomores Anita Gahir and Kellye Belcher, who both placed 12th, and senior Lauren Harling, who placed 24th. Playing as an individual, junior Amber Lindgren placed 28th. \nIU coach Clint Wallman thought the team could have won had the tournament lasted just a little longer.\n“We played solid and gave ourselves an opportunity to win but ran out of holes,” Wallman said. \nHost Michigan State won the tournament, while Kent State and IU tied for second. Michigan and Iowa rounded out the top five. \nCapturing the individual title by a landslide was Michigan State’s Laura Kueny, who finished eight strokes better than teammate Sara Brown. \nIU returns to action in two weeks when the team will compete in the Lady Northern Invitational in State College, Pa. \nWallman said he thinks the Hoosiers can take what they learned this weekend to \nPenn State.\n“We did a lot of things well, and we are now prepared for our next event,” he said.