IU to play tournament on home turf

After a fourth-place finish in its last tournament in Arizona, the IU women’s golf team is returning to familiar surroundings.

The Hoosiers will play host to the IU Invitational in Columbus, Ind., on Monday and Tuesday. In last year’s event, the Hoosiers finished eighth as rival Purdue took the title.

This year, the Hoosiers hope their recent success will play a part in the upcoming tournament. IU has finished in the top five in its last two tournaments, and IU coach Clint Wallman hopes to see the same type of play at home.

“We’ve played it all year, and they know they can play well on that course,” Wallman said in a statement. “They are very comfortable on it. I expect them to keep the momentum going from last week.”

The Hoosiers have not won this event since 1999 and look to junior Anita Gahir to help deliver a victory.

Gahir was named Big Ten Women’s Golfer of the Week for her play in the Mountain View Collegiate tournament March 28 to 29. Her 68 on the final day of the tournament was one stroke shy of a tournament record.