Franklin Looks to Repeat at HCAC Women's Golf Championships
HCAC Women's Golf Tournament Page
October 9, 2008
TERRE HAUTE , IN - The 2008 women's golf season will come to a close this weekend, as the HCAC women hit the links on Saturday and Sunday to settle the conference champion. The winner of this weekend's tournament will receive the conference's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Women's Golf Championship held May 13-16 in Port St. Lucie , Florida .
This year's HCAC tournament will be hosted by Rose-Hulman and held at Hulman Links Golf Course in Terre Haute, Indiana . The 5,800 yard par 72 course was designed by David Arthur Gill.
The individual title is up for grabs this season as three-time defending champion Katie Tewell of Franklin graduated last spring. Tewell tied the HCAC 36-hole record last fall with a two-day total of 152. Rose-Hulman's Stephanie Harrington (Houston , Tex. /Cinco Ranch) looks to be the favorite heading into the weekend. The junior golfer finished third in last year's tournament with a two day total of 173 and has led the conference this fall with an 82.5 scoring average. As a team, Harrington and the Engineers finished second to Franklin for the conference crown in 2007.
The Grizzlies appear to be the favorite to repeat as conference champion, but will have to deal with an improved Hanover squad that features many solid freshmen. All five Franklin golfers place in the top 12 scoring averages in the conference this season, while Hanover places two in the top four.
Hanover will look to make a charge to the top of the standings this weekend. The Panthers finished fifth last fall, but have two of the conference's top four players on their roster. Freshman Molly Burpo (Martinsville , Ind. /H.S.) ranks third with an 84.4 round average, while freshman Paige Schroeder (Jasper, Ind. /H.S.) has posted a fourth-best 84.8 average. Schroeder earned medalist honors and set a new Hanover 18-hole school record with round of 74 at the Centre College Fall Invitational this October.
he top eight finishers after the two rounds are complete will earn All-HCAC honors. The top freshman finisher after Sunday's second round will receive the Freshman of the Year award. Action will get underway Saturday and Sunday morning at 11:00 AM.