Ohio golfer Julie Tomlinson returned this fall expecting to find the same team she played with last spring. But the seven returning women -the team lost two graduating seniors and has no new recruits -turned out to be standing on much firmer ground this year.
I think we're going to be a much stronger team than I originally thought
so I'm really excited Tomlinson said.
In their first tournament of the season, the Bobcats placed third of 11 teams at the Eastern Kentucky Fall Invitational, with four golfers in the top 15. Tomlinson tied for second place with a final score of 229 (79-73-77).
Sara Ann Palmer shot a tournament-low score of 72 in the second round and was tied for first place at the end of day one. She finished tied for eighth with a final score of 232 (78-72-82).
Junior Ana Brown and sophomore Meredith Waterston tied for 13th at 236, while redshirt freshman Katie Stafford finished tied for 46th with a total of 253.
The Bobcats' performance improved after the first round; the Arlington Golf and Country Club course presented problems with putting and chipping.
The greens were really quick they were a lot quicker than we were used to playing on
so the first round was getting used to how we should hit the balls
Tomlinson said.
Individually, the women all entered tournaments over the summer, which Tomlinson said is important because it provides competitive situations the golfers can't get from hitting balls. Coach Bob Cooley said several players had improved over the summer.
They're playing better than they were last year
Cooley said. The women should be pretty good this year. We've got some good players.
The team's combined score of 932 placed it behind Kentucky (916) and Eastern Kentucky (930), and right ahead of the only other MAC team, Ball State (946).
With some experience behind them, the Bobcats are preparing for next weekend when they will travel to State College, Pa., for the Nittany Lion Invitational.
We're going to get a lot of putting. Short game is a big thing
especially at Penn State
because the course is longer
Tomlinson said.
Men's golf to compete at Louisville Invitational
The men's golf team will compete today in the first round of the Louisville Invitational.
Cooley said he doesn't know who the favorite is in the two-day tournament, but with about 20 teams competing, he expects good competition.
It's a good tournament to have in the fall
he said.
Each team in the tournament will enter five players who each will play 18 holes. The four best scores are added together to make the team score.
Sophomore Ryan Siekmann said he has a confident outlook.
We finished second place (in) two tournaments in a row
Siekmann said, noting that the team had no practice time prior to the first tournament because the Ohio golf course was flooded.
Competing today will be sophomores Siekmann, Grant Christman, Marc Cimarolli, and Blake Russell, and junior Jonathan Johasky.
