IU looking to find more success at regionals

IU can just about see the promised land again.\nComing off a trip to the NCAA Championships last year, the No. 44 Hoosiers are one tournament away from returning there.\nIU head coach Clint Wallman said it would be a disappointment if the Hoosiers didn’t get to nationals, but they must think about regionals first. \n“You always want to make nationals,” Wallman said. “With that said, we’re not really focused on that, and we are preparing for this week.”\nTo get to nationals IU needs a top-four finish in the NCAA East Regionals in Athens, Ga. The tournament began Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. and runs through Saturday. Live scores are available through www.golfstat.com. \nThe difference from last year is that the Hoosiers played on the University of Michigan Golf Course, a place they are very familiar with and have had a lot of success carding top-four finishes in each of their last three tournaments there.\nHowever, the Hoosiers have never played at the University of Georgia Golf Course where this year’s regionals take place.\nIU senior Lauren Harling said this is the regional site the Hoosiers have wanted to play in all along, and they are unconcerned that they have never been there before.\n“I think we’re excited about playing at a new golf course,” Harling said. “We wanted to come to Georgia, and we’re excited to come up with a game plan and try a new course.”\nIU sophomore Anita Gahir echoed Harling.\n“It helps us when we have a clean slate and having no past experience – which is a good thing,” Gahir said. \nGahir, who has been IU’s most consistent player this year, was named to the All-Big Ten second team. \nShe said she embraces being a team leader and will help out in any way needed.\n“I have practiced hard the last two weeks and I can motivate people and step up for the team if I need to,” Gahir said. \nCompeting in this tournament along with Gahir and Harling will be sophomores Kelly Belcher and Laura Nochta as well as senior Elaine Harris. This is the same lineup the Hoosiers have used all spring.\nWallman said the Hoosiers have as good a chance as anyone to ultimately reach the nationals. \n“Any team that gets to regionals can move on,” Wallman said. “There are a lot of good teams and anyone can play well and move on to the national championship.”