May 12, 2009
IOWA CITY, IA – The Iowa women’s golf team finished its season at the Big Ten Championships. The 72-hole tournament, hosted by Purdue, took place April 24-26 in West Lafayette, IN. The Hawkeyes finished fifth behind three nationally ranked teams. Iowa’s fifth-place finish is the best the Hawkeyes have seen at the conference tournament since the 1995 Big Ten Championships where Iowa placed fourth.
“To finish conference the way that we did, was huge for us,” said head coach Kelly Crawford. “It was a good way for us to end, and it gives the returning athletes something to think about.”
Senior duo Tyrette Metzendorf and Becky Quinby have been leaders for the women’s golf team all year, usually placing first and second on the team roster. In their final seasons, the seniors recorded the team’s lowest season averages of 76.6 and 79.0, respectively, over 32 rounds.
“Losing our two seniors, Becky and Tyrette, is going to be tough because they’re our top two players, but I really feel like the athletes we have coming in are going to step in and do a great job right away,” stated Crawford.
Returning letterwinners for the Hawkeyes include junior Alison Cavanaugh, sophomores Laura Cilek, Brianna Coopman and Lauren Forbes, and freshmen Chelsea Harris and Ann Vrdolyak; sophomore Amanda Stahl will also be returning. Iowa will welcome two new golfers in the fall, Kristi Cardwell and Gigi DiGrazia.
Crawford is expecting big things from the team next year, “The returners know they can get the job done now. Chelsea Harris and Laura Cilek are both getting pretty consistent. With more experience, and hopeful production from the incoming freshmen, I think we can be at the same level or even better next year.”
Iowa competed in 10 tournaments this past year, placing in the top-ten in seven of the outings. The Hawkeyes also defeated Stetson University in a dual meet this spring. The team placed second at the Hawkeye Invitational, where everyone on the team recorded season bests. Iowa will tee up its 2009-10 season in September.