Sept. 18, 2011
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| Notes & Quotes
Site: East Lansing, Mich.
Course: Forest Akers West Course (par 72, 6,237 yards)
Tournament: Mary Fossum Invitational (Day 2 of 2)
U-M Standing: 3rd Place of 12 Teams (311-294-305/910)
Top U-M Individual: Yugene Lee, 2nd (75-73-73/221)
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sun., Sept. 30-Oct. 2 -- at Bettie Lou Evans Fall Invitational (Lexington, Ky.)
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Sophomore Yugene Lee (Athens, Ga./Oconee County) placed runner-up, leading the University of Michigan women's golf team to a season-opening third-place finish today (Sunday, Sept. 18) at the Mary Fossum Invitational at the Forest Akers West Course. U-M closed with a 910 54-hole tally after team rounds of 311, 294 and 305.
Using Lee's opening-round 75, along with sophomore Alyssa Shimel's (Pemberville, Ohio/Eastwood HS) 76, the Wolverines posted a 311 in the chilly first round (Saturday, Sept. 17). With the sun coming out in Saturday's second round, senior Meagan Bauer (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) posted an even-par 72, Lee had a one-over 73 and freshman Devon Compton (Rochester Hills, Mich./Stoney Creek HS) had a two-over 74 to give U-M a 294 team total -- the lowest of any team in the second round -- moving the Wolverines to third after the first day of play.
A second one-over 73 from Lee in the final round, along with 77s from Bauer and Compton, led U-M to a 305 as the Maize and Blue fell three shots shy of Ohio State (907) for team runner-up. Host Michigan State led from start to finish, winning by 15 shots with an 892 total.
Tallying a career-best 221 total, Lee led the Wolverines as she posted a career-best finish as the medalist runner-up. In total, the Wolverines put four among the top 20 for the first time in two years as Bauer (81-72-77) and Shimel (76-76-78) both tied for 15th at 230, while in her first career start Compton tied for 18th at 231 (80-74-77). Rounding out the starting five was freshman Lauren Grogan (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson HS), who tied for 42nd at 240 (80-75-85). Playing as an individual and in her first collegiate event, freshman Linda Luo (Bradenton, Fla./Lakewood Ranch HS) tied for 30th at 235 (79-79-77).
The Wolverines continue their fall season with a trip to Lexington, Ky., Friday through Sunday (Sept. 30-Oct. 2) for the 2011 Bettie Lou Evans Fall Invitational. The 54-hole event, hosted by Kentucky, will be played at Big Blue Golf Course.
Final Team Standings
1. Michigan State 286-298-308 = 892 (+28)
2. Ohio State 299-305-303 = 907
3. MICHIGAN 311-294-305 = 910
4. Kent State 298-308-311 = 917
5. Miami 305-302-318 = 925
6. James Madison 315-307-311 = 933
7. Indiana 316-302-317 = 935
8. Eastern Michigan 304-317-321 = 942
9. Oakland 308-312-329 = 949
10. Toledo 312-321-322 = 955
11. Michigan State (B) 317-330-317 = 964
12. Ferris State 319-328-344 = 991
Top Individuals
1. Caroline Powers, Michigan State 71-71-75 = 217 (+1)
2. YUGENE LEE, U-M 75-73-73 = 221
3. Rika Park, Miami 76-73-73 = 222
4. Rosie Davies, Indiana 79-68-77 = 224
Jennifer Ha, Kent State 75-76-73 = 224
6. Leticia Ras-Anderica, Miami 75-73-77 = 225
Lindsey Solberg, Michigan State 74-72-79 = 225
8. Allyssa Ferrell, Michigan State 71-77-78 = 226
Vicky Villanueva, Ohio State 73-79-74 = 226
10. Erin Hawe, Kent State 75-76-77 = 228*
Liz Nagel, Michigan State 70-80-78 = 228
Shannon Warner, Eastern Michigan 76-79-73 = 228
Other Michigan Individuals
T15. Alyssa Shimel 76-76-78 = 230
T15. Meagan Bauer 81-72-77 = 230
T18. Devon Compton 80-74-77 = 231
T42. Lauren Grogan 80-75-85 = 240
T30. Linda Luo 79-79-77 = 235*
* played as individual
N O T E S
• The last time Michigan placed four starters among the top 20 individually was the 2009 Red Rocks Invitational.
• Michigan's third-place finish at the Mary Fossum Invitational equals the highest finish for the Wolverines in the Cheryl Stacy era. The Wolverines also finished third at the 2011 Rio Verde Intercollegiate. Overall, it is the third top-five finish in Stacy's two-year career.
• Yugene Lee's runner-up effort is a career-best finish, bettering her tie for sixth-place finish at the 2011 Rio Verde Intercollegiate. It marks her first career top-five finish.
• Yugene Lee set a new career-best 54-hole tournament tally with her 221 total. She topped her prior best of 224, which was set at the 2011 Rio Verde Intercollegiate.
• Lauren Grogan, Devon Compton and Linda Luo all made their collegiate debuts.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Cheryl Stacy
On the opening weekend for the Wolverine ... "It was pretty exciting to get started and to see us play just about where I expected. There is a lot of youth with our program, but for them to come out in the first event, compete and stay consistent and then finish third was just a bonus. We got off to a slow start, whether it was nerves or something else, but I just did not worry. Once we settled in, I just really enjoyed watching us compete. Our second-round 294 was the lowest total during the second round and that was great to see them bounce back from that first round. "
On if she has found a lineup so early in the season ... "Our lineup will vary a little bit from week to week, but you never know. If someone at home is playing well we will want them in our lineup. Our qualifiers are going to get really competitive and that is what you want. We want to put out the best lineup possible each week, whether that stays the same or not. Yugene (Lee) will be exempt this week because she played so well, but we have three other rounds for us find the best possible lineup heading into Kentucky. "
On what areas the Wolverines will stress before Kentucky ... "We definitely still need to work on our short games -- those 100 yards and in shots, our bunker shots and those small pitches that could have made us play even better this weekend. We have some short game drills and contests set up for next week so we will address that quickly. Other than that we are still getting know the freshmen and how they each play. However, that learning curve is moving along very smoothly so it won't be that long before we know how to coach them better. It's just all part of the process right now. I am just really excited for this year."
U-M Sophomore Yugene Lee
On the tournament weekend ... "Going into the weekend I just felt really confident. We have a good team coming back and three really good freshmen coming in. So it was great to see us get off to such a great start. For me, in the practice round, I just really found this course to my liking. It sets up really well for my game. This course is not for the long hitters, its all about the placement and that fits my game perfectly. I don't hit it very long, but I am accurate. I was able to really focus on that this weekend and put it where I wanted to. Then I had a lot of birdies on Saturday to help me out."
On if she knew she was in contention ... "Before today's round I really didn't know where I was in the standings. All I knew is we were a few shots behind Ohio State and if we played well we could have moved into second. That is really where my focus was. I just wanted to see the team do well."
Contact: Tom Wywrot (724) 763-4423
