Around The Game

The IU women's golf team posted a fifth place finish at the Lady Northern Invitational in Columbus, Ohio this weekend. The Hoosiers never moved out of the top five and have now placed fifth or better at the Lady Northern in 20 or their 21 tournament appearances. \nFacing the entire Big Ten field, the Hoosiers were provided a chance to play against their biggest competition. Of all the Big Ten teams, only Michigan State and tournament host Ohio State finished ahead of the Hoosiers. \nSenior Danah Ford finished as the highest individual for the Hoosiers for her second straight week. Ford posted her second 15th place finish in as many weeks with a three-round score of 227 (74-74-79). Ford had a top 10 finish in her sights, but bogeys on five of her last eight holes Sunday took her down the leader board.\nSenior Karen Dennison finished in a tie for 23rd after a final round 76, the best final round for the Hoosiers on the day. Sophomore Molly Redfearn also finished tied with Dennison at 233. \nIn her first tournament for the Hoosiers, sophomore Lissa Putnam fired an opening round 75 before finishing in a tie for 31st with a score of 235. \nThe Hoosiers will return to the links October 6-7 at the Shootout at the Legends in Franklin, Ind.\nWomen's cross country runs to 15th finish in tough Griak Invitational\nThe No. 21 IU women's cross country team placed in the middle of the pack in this past weekend's Roy Griak Invitational run at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in Minneapolis. \nThe team finished 15th out of a field of 26, which included 11 teams of the top 30 in the nation. \nWith such stiff competition, coach Judy Wilson knew her runners would have to battle to succeed.\n"I knew this year's Roy Griak meet would be quite different than last year's," she said. This year's field was somewhat tougher. Kelly (Siefker) saw international competition last year, and Larra (Overton) really came on competitively at the outdoor (track and field) Big Ten. That is helping them a great deal this fall." \nThe top finisher for the Hoosiers was senior Audrey Giesler who finished 29th with a time of 21:40. She had three teammates finish within one minute of her. Junior Mindy Peterson finished 74th in 22:15, Kristin Whitezell came in 87th in 22:24 and Siefker finished in 103rd place in 22:38. \nThree other Hoosiers rounded out the team, with all seven finishing in the top 150. \nJunior Julie Shields finished in 120th in 22:49, Overton finished in 134th in 23 minutes even, and sophomore Allison Miller rounded out the Hoosiers pack in 150th in 23:18.