IU women’s golf will look to keep the momentum rolling Monday after their fifth consecutive top-10 finish last week.
Coming off the Westbrook Invitational in Peoria, Arizona, where the team placed in seventh, IU will head to Fresno, California, for the Fresno State Classic.
IU will be the only Big Ten team in the 11-team field for the tournament. That could be a good sign for the Hoosiers considering three of the top-five teams at the Westbrook Invitational were from the Big Ten.
The strength of their conference is no surprise.
“Big Ten golf is good and getting better every day,” Coach Clint Wallman said after the Westbrook Invitational. “Any Big Ten team can compete at a high level.”
As the attention shifts toward Fresno, IU will send out its best lineup for the second straight tournament.
Due to injuries in the fall, the Westbrook Invitational was the first time IU had that lineup playing together. The golfers in that group include freshmen Mary Parsons and Priscilla Schmid, junior Erin Harper, senior Alix Kong and sophomore Elisa Pierre.
Schmid finished in the top-10 of the previous tournament while Parsons and Harper were the only other IU golfers in the top-25.
Parsons has been the most consistent golfer for IU this season. However, the Schmid's play in the previous two tournaments has lead the way for the team.
At the Ladies Fall Intercollegiate Invitational in John’s Creek, Georgia, Schmid finished tied for sixth. Now, Schmid finds herself riding a streak of two consecutive top-10 finishes.
Freshman Angela Aung has been the usual go-to for the individual spot at tournaments. However, it will be sophomore Carolina Garrett playing the role in Fresno.
A large part of the IU’s success this season has been due to the ability to capitalize on the par-3 holes.
IU ranked third at the Westbrook Invitational on those holes where iron play is crucial.
“Our team is probably one of the best ball-striking teams I’ve had,” Wallman said after the Westbrook Invitational. “It’s just a matter of converting some of those gifts that we give ourselves.”
The Fresno State Classic will be three rounds in two days. With 11:30 a.m. tee times for both days, two rounds will be played Monday with the final round being played Tuesday.
The field this year features Nevada, last year’s Fresno State Classic champions.
Fresno is the second of five spring tournaments for IU before the Big Ten Championships and possible NCAA play.
