Hoosiers tie for 4th place at Northern Invitational

After having their first tournament canceled following the terrorist attacks on the United States, the women's golf team finally had their chance to compete. They tied for fourth place in the Northern Invitational in Champaign, Ill., with an 898 cumulative score.\nCompeting for the Hoosiers, in playing order under head coach Sam Carmichael's lineup were sophomores Karen Dennison, Mary Lidester and Danah Ford, junior Cara Stuckey and senior captain Tiffany Fisher. Sophomore Ambry Bishop competed as an individual in the tournament. \nAfter the opening day of Friday's tournament, the Hoosiers shot a first-round 299. The score stood for a third place finish through 18 holes, behind Michigan (290) and Illinois (296). Leading the way for IU was Dennison, who shot an even-par 72 to tie for third overall in the individual standings. \nMeanwhile, Lidester shot a 1 over 73, tying for seventh overall. Ford shot a 75, Stuckey a 79, Bishop an 80 and Fisher an 81. \nOn Saturday, Ford and Stuckey each shot career best rounds, but the Hoosiers fell in the standings to fifth place with a 296 second round total. Ford shot a one-over 73 to tie for 12th in the standings, while Stuckey shot an even-par 72. Also tied for twelfth place was Dennison, who shot a 4-over 76. Lidester shot a 77 to fall in a tie for 23rd place. In team standings, Michigan shot a 291 to remain in first.\nSunday, in windy and rainy conditions, the Hoosiers shot 303 to seal a tie for fourth place with Penn State. Dennison shot a 74 to finish tied for 8th overall in the individual standings at +6. Stuckey finished in a tie for 20th place, shooting a 75 on the final day and ending at +10. Ford finished tied for 25th at +11, Lidester finished 30th at +12, Bishop finished 43rd at +17 and Fisher shot a 76 on the final day to finish tied for 52nd at +21. \nMichigan shot a 292 to finish the tournament in first place. Northwestern and Kent State finished second and third, with scores of 887 and 892, respectively. \nThe tournament, played at the par 72, 5,482 yard Stone Creek Golf Club, is also the site of this year's Big Ten tournament on April 26-28, 2002. While the Northern offers the teams a chance to play the course where the Big Ten tournament will be held, it did not offer such insight into the field of teams who will potentially compete. Three of the top Big Ten teams, Michigan State, Ohio State and Purdue, were invited to play in the NCAA preview meet in Seattle, Wash., September 24-26 instead.\nThe Hoosiers will play Oct. 8th and 9th in the Legends Shootout in Franklin, Indiana.