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| 04-25-2003 | Previous edition: 04-24-2003 |
         
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Printer-friendly version Boilers enter postseason on 'upswing'
Staff Writer Heading into the Big Ten Championships, the Purdue women's golf team has the one ingredient all teams need when they enter the postseason; momentum. The Boilers have played their best golf in the month of April, with a first place victory at the Indiana Invitational, and a strong second place showing at the Lady Boilermaker tournament. Head coach Devon Brouse thinks his team is getting hot at the right time. "I certainly hope so," said Brouse. "This is the time of year that becomes important for us. Entering the postseason, you'd like for a team to be on an upswing." The team could attribute this improvement to the play of senior Kari Damron, who has carded an average of 75.2 strokes per round in the month of April. Last week, Damron was named the Big Ten women's golfer of the week for the second time this year. "Kari's golf represents the same upswing our team is on," said Brouse. "But, that upswing will ultimately be determined in the next three tournaments. She's been close to putting it all together, and I think she can for her and the team." No. 22 Purdue will be the number two seed at the Big Ten Championships, behind defending Big Ten champion No. 16 Ohio State. No. 32 Indiana will be seeded third and No. 35 Michigan State will be the fourth seed. "We have 16th ranked Ohio State, ourselves, Indiana and Michigan State, so ratings-wise it looks like a four-team race," said Brouse. "(But), as defending champ and 16th ranked right now, (Ohio State) is the clear favorite (to win the tournament)." The championships are played at the 6,053-yard, par 73 Finkbine Course on the campus of the University of Iowa. The course is something senior transfer Heather Suhr, a three-year member of the Hawkeye golf team, knows all about. "I have a huge advantage (at Iowa)," said Suhr. "I know the course inside and out. I can give my teammates very specific tips. It's not only an advantage to me, but to my teammates as well. I have good feelings about it." Brouse also feels Suhr's experience is an advantage, but notes that golf is primarily about performing your best. "Familiarity with the grounds is usually an advantage, but it can also be a disadvantage by raising expectations," said Brouse. "Most of the players have seen the course earlier in the season. "The thing in golf, you really don't have control over the other team. We just need to go out and play the best golf we're capable of playing." Brouse knows about performing well in the postseason. In his tenure at Purdue, the Boilers have never finished lower than fourth place at the Big Ten Championships. In 2002, the team finished second and in 2000 they garnered the team's first-ever Big Ten title. Damron and senior Heather Zielinski were on the 2000 squad, an experience that gives them the desire to win it again. "I wouldn't say experience (with our seniors), but the hunger and the passion," said Brouse. "They remember how much fun it was (to win the title). This week, in a lot of ways, is about having fun and playing golf." As Brouse compares this team to his 2000 squad, he sees one small similarity. "To be honest, I wasn't real confident about the (2000) team heading into the Big Ten," said Brouse. "They hadn't performed well in the last few meets. It was a complete turnaround for them the last couple of weeks, and they really came together at the end. I think that same sign of coming together is (evident) in our last two competitions." The championships begin with the first and second rounds today. The third round will be played on Saturday, and the final of competition starts at 8 a.m. Printer-friendly version |
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