Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats to Wrap Up Fall Season This Weekend
10/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Oct. 21, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's 38th-ranked women's golf team concludes its fall season at the Lady Paladin Invitational Friday through Sunday, Oct. 22-24. The 54-hole tournament is being held at the par-72, 5,984 yard Furman Golf Course in Greenville, S.C. Five teams in the field of 23 are ranked in Golfweek's top 30, including No. 2 Auburn and No. 5 Georgia.
In addition to Auburn and Georgia, Florida is ranked 14th, Furman is 18th and Mississippi State is 23rd. Michigan State and Minnesota are also in the field.
The Georgia Bulldogs won the 2003 Lady Paladin Title, setting a three-round record total of 866. The Auburn Tigers, who did not compete in last year's event, won the team title in 2000 and 2001.
UGA's Natalia Nichols won 2003 medalist honors and will be back to defend her title. Her chief rival may very well be one of her own teammates, Whitney Wade. Wade tied for second as a freshman last year.
"The Lady Paladin Invitational is an opportunity for us to move up in the national rankings," NU Head Coach Chris Regenberg said. "The field is comprised of many East and Southern Regional teams who are traditionally strong. If we putt well this week I think we will have a successful tournament with wins over some top programs, and that is how we would like to finish our fall season."
NU is led by senior Ina Kim (Encino, Calif./Harvard-Westlake). In three events Kim has posted two top-10 finishes and a team-best 75.22 stroke average. She is ranked 63rd in the country by Golfweek. In her last start, the Mercedes-Benz Championships, Kim captured fourth place with a three-round total of 4-over 217 (71-71-75).
"Ina's play at the Mercedes was exceptional," said Regenberg. "She handled the Donald Ross designed golf course with precision and mental toughness. That was one of Ina's best collegiate performances."
Underclassmen round out the Wildcats' lineup. Alice Kim (Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood), who was last year's Big Ten Freshman of the Year, is second on the team in scoring. She finished sixth at the Mary Fossum Invitational earlier this season. Freshmen Britanny Johnston (Akron, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and Katie Trachok (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) are third and fourth, respectively. Each of the top four scorers has shot a team best round of 1-over par or better to lead the 'Cats in a tournament this year.
Kelly Robb (Concord, Mass./Middlesex School), who finished runner-up to Alice Kim in the Big Ten Freshman of the Year voting, is fifth in scoring.
"The combination of youth and experience in the squad is beginning to gel," said Regenberg. "I think the freshmen are quietly pushing the veterans and the whole team is benefiting from it. I think there is a sense of trust right now throughout our lineup that any player can shoot a low score."
Play begins at 8:20 a.m. (7:20 CDT) on Friday, with rounds two and three slated for an 8:20 a.m. start on Saturday and a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start on Sunday.
