Sept. 14, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Coming off a solid 2005-06 campaign, Northwestern's women's golf team wants to make a strong opening statement when it begins the 2006-07 season this weekend (Sept. 16-17) at the Lady Northern Invitational in East Lansing, Mich.
This year's edition of the Lady Northern Invitational will be played on Forest Akers West Golf Course, a par-72 layout that measures 6,237 yards.
Teams scheduled to compete in this year's Lady Northern include: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kent State, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Toledo and Wisconsin.
The Wildcats have a history both at this tournament and on this golf course. The Lady Northern changes venues each year, and this year Michigan State is replacing the Mary Fossum Invitational -- an event the 'Cats play each year -- with the Lady Northern to prepare for when they host the Big Ten Championships this spring.
One of Northwestern's top returning players, sophomore Jennifer Hong (Windermere, Fla./The First Academy), began her collegiate career with a bang on this very course. Hong finished the Mary Fossum Invitational -- the first tournament of her collegiate career -- in a tie for medalist honors before losing in a playoff to Kent State's Becky Wood.
As a team the 'Cats finished third, with senior and reigning Big Ten champion Alice Kim (Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood) right behind Hong. Kim will look to improve upon a stellar 2005-06 season where she finished with a 74.76 scoring average, the lowest average in school history,
All five starters from 2005-06 are back for the 'Cats, with senior Heather Scholten (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and juniors Brittany Johnston (Akron, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and Katie Trachok (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) also returning in an attempt to make this year's squad the best Northwestern Head Coach Chris Regenberg has seen in her 15-year tenure.
Live results for the 54-hole invitational can be found at Lady Northern Invitational.