After a rain-soaked weekend, the Badger Invitational came to a close Sunday at University Ridge Golf Course. Both the Wisconsin men's and women's golf teams competed in the three-day event, which was shortened to 36 holes because of inclement weather all weekend long.
Nonetheless, both teams were able to use this first tournament of the season to gauge where they need to be when the fall season concludes. The women had a good deal of success, finishing in third place out of nine teams with a combined score of 627. They were edged by two Big Ten teams-Michigan State (608) and Purdue (619)-but made up ground in the final 18 holes by jumping Northwestern and Arkansas-Little Rock in the team standings.
\They did a wonderful job today coming out and getting themselves back into the tournament,"" Head Coach Todd Oehrlein said. ""They moved from fifth to third ... so it was a great step in the right direction, but there is room for improvement.""
The story of the day for Wisconsin was senior Malinda Johnson, who played a steady game of golf all weekend, shooting back-to-back 70s to finish with a 140 for the weekend. She tied Michigan State's senior Allison Fouch, who also shot a 140 on 36 holes. In the play-off both girls were able to par the first hole to send it to hole No. 2. It was there that Fouch ousted Johnson by one stoke to end the day with a birdie that clinched individual championship.
""We both parred our first hole,"" Johnson said. ""[On the] second hole, we both hit our drives and she hit hers on the green in two and I hit mine into the left bunker. I left it short of the green and left it short and it almost rimmed out and she putted in for the win.""
Coach Oehrlein was thrilled with the performance of his only senior, who came so close to taking home first place.
""Melinda did an amazing job. She came out and played her first five holes today four under par to get back into it and played perfect golf the rest of the way,"" Oehrlein said. ""That is the leadership that we are going to need out of her all season.""
Freshman Niki Morse was the only other Badger to finish in the top 10 as she put up scores of 77 and 75, to finish in seventh place. Also competing for Wisconsin were freshman Jill Ries (166), sophomore Jackie Obermueller (170) and freshman Taryn Rechlicz (172).
The Wisconsin men's golf team did not finish as well in the standings, but Head Coach Jim Schuman is not worried. The Badgers finished tied for sixth place in their first competition under the first-year head coach with a combined score of 605.
""[This weekend] was not too bad. It was the first chance that I got to see them outside of qualifying, in tournament conditions, which is exciting for me and gives me some framework for where we are,"" Schuman said. ""I saw some really good things and saw some things to improve on for sure.""
The Badgers were led by junior Kevin Tassistro and freshman Ryan Conn this weekend. The teammates were tied after the first round of play, but Tassistro edged Conn by four strokes on the final round to lead the Badgers. Tassistro finished the tournament tied in sixth place with a combined 148, while Conn ended with a score of 152. Conn, a late addition to the Badgers, made a mark in his first collegiate tournament.
""He is not only a steady player but he has a great mind for the game. Before he is done playing for the university he is going to do some really good things,"" Schuman said.
For both teams the tournament marked the only time this fall that they will be competing at home. It was also a weekend in which both coaches made their debut with their respective teams.
