Cain, IU capture titles at Indiana Invitational

Co-captains senior Kristtini Cain and junior Kate Coons fired one-over-par 73s to move into a play-off for the individual title at the Indiana Invitational. They joined Ball State’s Jenna Hague and IU-Purdue University Indianapolis’ Lauren Kuss.

For moral support and guidance in the playoff, IU Coach Clint Wallman walked alongside Coons, while IU Assistant Coach Lauren Harling joined Cain.

After the first hole, Coons was eliminated with a bogey. Hague, Kuss and Cain made pars in the first playoff hole, but Kuss was next to fall.

“I was really nervous. Jenna was hitting the ball really well,” Cain said. “But her tee shot on our final play-off hole was blocked, and she had to punch it out.”

Cain hit her tee shot with grace, landing the golf ball in the middle of the fairway, allowing for a clear visual of the green. She chose her five-wood for the second stroke, which then left her 5 to 10 feet short of the green.

“I knew if I could just get it within 3 feet of the cup, I would be pretty confident with my final putt,” Cain said. “I just made a good swing, and it almost went in the hole.”

With a chip that was within inches of the hole, Cain went for the tap-in birdie to take her sole individual title in her college career.

“Words can’t really describe it. I’ve been playing golf for 10 years and in college for four,” Cain said. “I’ve had a win but never in college, and my family was there this weekend. It was perfect, I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend.”

Due to inclement weather Saturday, the Indiana Invitational was cut to an 18-hole event Sunday in which the Hoosiers finished victorious at the IU Golf Course.

Cain credited her round to her putting, noting the rain slowed the greens, and the strong wind was difficult to judge.

While Cain earned the individual title, the Hoosiers sat atop the leaderboard with all five players placing within the top 25. Freshman Elizabeth Tong tied for seventh with a 75, and juniors Rosie Davies and Pamela Burneski recorded 77s to tie for 16th.

“Today was a really challenging day for us,” Wallman said. “We started play yesterday, then stopped play and never really got into any sort of rhythm. I am really proud of the girls for regrouping and getting on the golf course and enduring a rugged start.”

With the Big Ten Championship only two weeks away, Cain said the win this weekend served as a confidence booster to move forward.

“I think all of us know that if we play like we did this weekend and in Arizona, we have as good of a chance to win,” Cain said. “You can’t focus too much on it, just have to move forward and prepare. It’s just nice to have a win under our belt.”