Women's golf finishes 6th in Wisconsin invitational

The IU women’s golf team knew the course in Wisconsin was going to be difficult, but still thought it could come out on top.

And so, despite falling to a sixth-place finish Sunday in the Badger Invitational, IU coach Clint Wallman still took some positives away from the tournament.

“We didn’t bring our ‘A’ game, but we were still in contention,” Wallman said.
The IU coach added that competing well while not at the top of their games is something good teams must do.

The team had a solid final round until a 17th hole in which golf balls began landing in the water, with three players having double bogeys and one adding a triple bogey.

Junior Anita Gahir was the top finisher for the Hoosiers, tying for fifth overall.

Gahir’s effort over the weekend improved on her 39th-place finish in the team’s first tournament last weekend in New Mexico. The Thornhill, Ontario, native finished the tournament with a four-over par 220 (73-73-74).

Gahir said she was more comfortable in this tournament, partly coming from increased practice throughout the week with her coach.

“I worked on a few things with coach, and they really paid off,” she said.

Even though she didn’t play much during the summer after wrist surgery near the end of last season, Gahir said she thought the time off actually helped her, and she now feels fresh to start the new season.

Wallman said he liked how Gahir played, adding that it proved that she is a talented golfer.

“Anita is one of the best in the Big Ten,” he said. “She knows how to play the game”

Junior Laura Nochta, who finished tied for fourth at last weekend’s Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational, ended second for the Hoosiers and 22nd overall.

Wallman said Nochta did not hit the ball as crisply this week and struggled along with the rest of her teammates with her short game, something he said the team will practice more before its next tournament.

After opening up the season with back-to-back tournaments, the Hoosiers now have a long break before resuming action at the Lady Northern Invitational from Oct. 18 to 19 in West Lafayette.

Senior Amber Lindgren said she feels the break will be beneficial to the team.

“The break before our next tournament is going to come in handy,” she said. “Every tournament, we get more experience and learn from it.”

Lindgren admitted the team wanted to do better, especially after coming in as the second-ranked team in the field, but reiterated the importance of experience.

“It was a little disappointing,” she said. “We have a couple more tournaments this fall, so hopefully we can learn from this.”