Northwestern University Athletics
Defend The Crown: #B1GCats Tee Off Big Ten Championships Friday
4/20/2017 2:29:00 PM | Women's Golf
MAINEVILLE, Ohio – No. 15 Northwestern tees off its title defense at the Big Ten Women's Golf Championships on Friday, April 21, at TPC River's Bend (Par-72; 6,357 yards). The Wildcats have captured two straight Big Ten crowns, and three of the last four.
Big Ten Women's Golf Championships – LIVE LEADERBOARD (via GolfStat)
TPC River's Bend
Big Ten Women's Golf Championships Central
Big Ten Women's Golf Championships Fan Central
Big Ten Women's Golf Records Book
Head coach Emily Fletcher's lineup will feature two-time Big Ten Player of the Year Hannah Kim, 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Stephanie Lau, 2016 All-Big Ten honorees Kacie Komoto, Sarah Cho and Janet Mao, and sophomore Monica Matsubara in the 6-count-4 scoring format.
For Fletcher and her squad, the preparation for this tournament is the same even if the stakes are elevated.
"I think in our preparation and in what we do, it's very much the same," she said before one of the team's final practice rounds at Lakeshore Country Club. "But I think there's no fooling everybody that we turn a page when we get into the postseason, in terms of our energy and excitement. My message to the girls isn't any different. Let's win the day, let's go be us, let's stick to what we do best. I think this group kind of thrives on that."
Six Big Ten teams are ranked among the Top-50 according to the latest Golfweek/Sagarin national rankings. Northwestern leads the way at No. 15, followed by No. 28 Ohio State, No. 32 Illinois, No. 34 Purdue, No. 37 Michigan and No. 48 Wisconsin.
"I think our kids are very well aware of where we're ranked in the country, that we enter this tournament as the top-ranked team in the Big Ten," said Fletcher. "Last year was the first time that was the case, and we sort of got over that hump. But I think they're also aware that we've been consistently inconsistent this year. When we're consistent, when we can get everyone firing on all cylinders, we're tough to beat."
For Kim, an All-American last season, the Big Ten Championships is not just another tournament.
"I love the Big Ten Championship because it's the only tournament we play where all the Conference schools are there, and it gives us an opportunity to show that we're the best in the Big Ten," she said. "It's the time of the year that we really come together as a team, playing for a bigger purpose."
This year's event is on unfamiliar ground for most of the Wildcats. Fletcher is the only person who had ever seen the course before Thursday's practice round.
"If we're going to win, we're going to have managed ourselves around the golf course. We're going to take advantage of green-light opportunities, and when we've got yellow-light situations - where the right call is to play 30-feet left on the pin - we're willing to do that. If we show that kind of discipline and that kind of patience, I think that will bode well for us."
Precipitation is likely to be a factor during the tournament as current forecasts are calling for a chance of rain on Friday and Sunday, and almost certain rainfall on Saturday. Winds are also expected to increase as the weekend progresses, potentially reaching up to 15 mph during Sunday's final round.
This year's field features 18 of the top 20 finishers from the 2016 Big Ten Championships, including Northwestern's Lau (T4th), Kim (T9th), Mao (T12th) and Komoto (T17th).
That 18 also includes 2016 medalist August Kim of Purdue. Ohio State's Katja Pogacar, who finished second individually last season, also returns, along with Jessica Porvasnik (T7th) and Rio Watanabe (T12th). Wisconsin's Brooke Ferrell, a third-place finisher at the 2016 Big Ten Championships, returns along with Becky Klongland, who finished tied for 9th. Illinois' Bing Singhsumalee finished in a fourth-place tie last season, and returns to lead the Fighting Illini. Michigan State's Sarah Burnham returns after tying for 7th place last season, while Penn State's Lauren Waller will look to build upon a ninth-place tie in 2016. Rutgers' Emily Mills finished in a 12th place tie last season and returns to lead the Scarlet Knights. Michigan returns Grace Choi (T15th) and Megan Kim (T17th), while Purdue's Marta Martin is back after finishing in a 17th place tie at the 2016 Big Ten Championships.
The Big Ten Network will debut coverage of the Big Ten Women's Golf Championships on Saturday, April 29 at 11 a.m. CT.
SCHEDULE
Friday, April 21 - 8:30 a.m. ET - Round 1 Begins
Saturday, April 22 - 8:30 a.m. ET - Round 2 Begins
Sunday, April 23 - 8 a.m. ET - Round 3 Begins
Big Ten Women's Golf Championships – LIVE LEADERBOARD (via GolfStat)
TPC River's Bend
Big Ten Women's Golf Championships Central
Big Ten Women's Golf Championships Fan Central
Big Ten Women's Golf Records Book
Head coach Emily Fletcher's lineup will feature two-time Big Ten Player of the Year Hannah Kim, 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Stephanie Lau, 2016 All-Big Ten honorees Kacie Komoto, Sarah Cho and Janet Mao, and sophomore Monica Matsubara in the 6-count-4 scoring format.
For Fletcher and her squad, the preparation for this tournament is the same even if the stakes are elevated.
"I think in our preparation and in what we do, it's very much the same," she said before one of the team's final practice rounds at Lakeshore Country Club. "But I think there's no fooling everybody that we turn a page when we get into the postseason, in terms of our energy and excitement. My message to the girls isn't any different. Let's win the day, let's go be us, let's stick to what we do best. I think this group kind of thrives on that."
Six Big Ten teams are ranked among the Top-50 according to the latest Golfweek/Sagarin national rankings. Northwestern leads the way at No. 15, followed by No. 28 Ohio State, No. 32 Illinois, No. 34 Purdue, No. 37 Michigan and No. 48 Wisconsin.
"I think our kids are very well aware of where we're ranked in the country, that we enter this tournament as the top-ranked team in the Big Ten," said Fletcher. "Last year was the first time that was the case, and we sort of got over that hump. But I think they're also aware that we've been consistently inconsistent this year. When we're consistent, when we can get everyone firing on all cylinders, we're tough to beat."
For Kim, an All-American last season, the Big Ten Championships is not just another tournament.
"I love the Big Ten Championship because it's the only tournament we play where all the Conference schools are there, and it gives us an opportunity to show that we're the best in the Big Ten," she said. "It's the time of the year that we really come together as a team, playing for a bigger purpose."
This year's event is on unfamiliar ground for most of the Wildcats. Fletcher is the only person who had ever seen the course before Thursday's practice round.
"If we're going to win, we're going to have managed ourselves around the golf course. We're going to take advantage of green-light opportunities, and when we've got yellow-light situations - where the right call is to play 30-feet left on the pin - we're willing to do that. If we show that kind of discipline and that kind of patience, I think that will bode well for us."
Precipitation is likely to be a factor during the tournament as current forecasts are calling for a chance of rain on Friday and Sunday, and almost certain rainfall on Saturday. Winds are also expected to increase as the weekend progresses, potentially reaching up to 15 mph during Sunday's final round.
This year's field features 18 of the top 20 finishers from the 2016 Big Ten Championships, including Northwestern's Lau (T4th), Kim (T9th), Mao (T12th) and Komoto (T17th).
That 18 also includes 2016 medalist August Kim of Purdue. Ohio State's Katja Pogacar, who finished second individually last season, also returns, along with Jessica Porvasnik (T7th) and Rio Watanabe (T12th). Wisconsin's Brooke Ferrell, a third-place finisher at the 2016 Big Ten Championships, returns along with Becky Klongland, who finished tied for 9th. Illinois' Bing Singhsumalee finished in a fourth-place tie last season, and returns to lead the Fighting Illini. Michigan State's Sarah Burnham returns after tying for 7th place last season, while Penn State's Lauren Waller will look to build upon a ninth-place tie in 2016. Rutgers' Emily Mills finished in a 12th place tie last season and returns to lead the Scarlet Knights. Michigan returns Grace Choi (T15th) and Megan Kim (T17th), while Purdue's Marta Martin is back after finishing in a 17th place tie at the 2016 Big Ten Championships.
The Big Ten Network will debut coverage of the Big Ten Women's Golf Championships on Saturday, April 29 at 11 a.m. CT.
SCHEDULE
Friday, April 21 - 8:30 a.m. ET - Round 1 Begins
Saturday, April 22 - 8:30 a.m. ET - Round 2 Begins
Sunday, April 23 - 8 a.m. ET - Round 3 Begins
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