IU looks to regain past success in Wisconsin

Two years ago, the IU women’s golf team traveled to Madison, Wis., to compete in the Badger Invitational. They did a bit more than that, as they came away with the team championship.

On Saturday, the team will return to Madison for the first time since that championship with hopes for a repeat performance.

Junior Kellye Belcher, who finished sixth two years ago as a freshman, is confident the team can repeat its past success. 

“I think we have a really good chance of winning this tournament,” Belcher said. “We played really well on this course before.”

The Hoosiers come into the tournament as the second-ranked team in the field and 36th overall in the latest Golfweek/Sagarin National Rankings. Only California is ranked higher, at No. 2 overall. 

Last weekend, the team traveled to New Mexico for the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational. The course was difficult with especially challenging greens, but as a result, IU coach Clint Wallman feels it prepared his team well for this weekend’s tournament.

“It was a difficult golf course,” Wallman said of the New Mexico course. “I really believe it prepared us to go up to Madison and compete.”

Wallman said 35 to 43 percent of strokes taken in golf are on the greens, and thus his team has been practicing their putting frequency over the past week.

The IU coach added that he feels the team established a good connection in its first tournament.

“The team clicked with chemistry and worked hard,” he said. “There was a really good feel amongst all the players.”

Junior Laura Nochta had the best finish individually last weekend in New Mexico, as she tied for fourth place.

Nochta said with such a good finish early in the season, she believes it will help her in the future.

“A top-five finish is always a good confidence booster,” she said. “I’m playing pretty well right now, and I feel confident going into this tournament.”

Nochta comes into the weekend as the highest-ranked player in the Big Ten, 19th overall in the NCAA, according to the latest Golfweek rankings.

Despite what would seem like a lot of pressure on her to perform well, Nochta said that is not how she sees it.

“It’s just going to be me and the golf course and trying to play it the best I can,” she said.

The women’s golf team will be seeing several teams this weekend they have not seen before, something Belcher said will relax them more in this tournament.

Joining Belcher and Nochta in the lineup will be junior Anita Gahir, senior Amber Lindgren and sophomore Cecilia Orevik. Freshman Sara Poppas will play in her second collegiate tournament as an individual.

The team will play 36 holes on Saturday and follow it with 18 on Sunday.

Overall, the Hoosiers look to return to Madison and back up on the medal stand, something Nochta feels they are ready to do.

“I think we are prepared,” she said. “We have the first tournament under our belt, and the stress and pressure is gone. We are ready to go out and play.”