IU womens golf team scores another 3rd place finish at Invitational

Three seems to be the number of choice for the IU women’s golf team lately. At the Johnie Imes Invitational in Columbia, Mo., IU netted its third straight third-place finish and placed three golfers in the Top 11.\nIU coach Clint Wallman said his team is capable of even better results.\n“We have things we need to work on,” Wallman said. “We haven’t hit on all cylinders, but when we do, we will be fine.”\nLeading the way for the Hoosiers individually for the second straight tournament was sophomore Laura Nochta, who placed fifth. Nochta shot an even par in the first round to tie for the lead. But after playing the front nine of the second round at 5-over-par, she fell back. She then settled down, and played the final 27 holes at a combined 5-over to grab fifth place.\nOne stroke behind Nochta was senior Elaine Harris, who placed sixth. Harris played the front nine of the first round at an even par, but slid back to shoot 5-over-par on the back nine of the round. She then rebounded to shoot just 6-over on the final 36 holes.\nHarris said she was proud of herself afterward for turning around her tournament.\n“I started to question myself,” Harris said. “I could have lost faith in my putting, but instead got my momentum back.”\nNext in line for the Hoosiers was sophomore Kellye Belcher, who placed 11th. Belcher played the first 45 holes of the tournament in the Top 10, but had a rough time on the back nine at 8-over-par to close the tournament. \nAlso competing as an individual for the Hoosiers in her first competitive collegiate tournament was freshman Emily Johnson, who after shooting an 87 in the first round, rebounded to place 23rd by shooting 77 and 79 in the last two rounds. \n“Emily really rebounded from a tough start, which is a confidence booster for her,” Wallman said.\nRounding out the IU lineup were junior Amber Lindgren and senior Lauren Harling, who finished 26th and 28th respectively.\nHarling said afterward that she was not pleased with her play.\n“I just haven’t played well all year,” Harling said.\nMissouri won the tournament, and Julia Potter captured the individual title for the victorious Tigers.\nIU returns to action for the final time this fall on Oct. 28, when they compete at the Kiawah Island Invitational in Kiawah Island, S.C.\nWallman said familiarity with the course and improved play should pay big dividends and improve the Hoosiers’ season-worst 11th-place finish there last year. \n“We have experience there now, and we are a much better team than last year,” he said. “If we do what we are capable of doing, we will improve on that finish.”