Illinois Wesleyan 2007-08 Women's Golf Stories

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Illinois Wesleyan Rankings in Division III Golf Polls

May 16
The Illinois Wesleyan women’s golf team made its highest finish ever in the national NCAA championships, finishing fourth in the 2008 event at Centennial Oaks Golf Club in Waverly, Iowa May 13-16. The Titans finished with a team total of 1271, behind only 10-time champion Methodist (1219), DePauw (1258), and Southwestern (1263). Junior Nicole Spear (Naperville, Central HS) was IWU’s low scorer, tying for 19th with a 314 total, while junior Maddie Murphy (Wayne, St. Francis Prep) tied for 21st at 316. Methodist’s Susan Martin was the tournament champion with a 294 total. IWU senior Kristi Katz (Park Ridge, Maine South HS) was in 29th with a 320 score, sophomore Lindsey Haines (Crete, Ill., Marian Catholic HS) finished in 46th at 327 and sophomore Alessandra Bollero (Palm Beach, Fla., Cardinal Newman HS) placed 64th with her 331 total. In the national tourney for the sixth time overall and the fourth consecutive season, IWU’s previous high finish was sixth in 2007, 2006 and 2000. The Titans were eighth in 2005 and 10th in 2002.

May 15
Five IWU women’s golfers were chosen to the Division III all-Central Region team selected by members of the National Golf Coaches Association. Winners were recognized at the NGCA Division III Awards banquet held in conjunction with the national tournament this week in Waterloo, Iowa.
Titans senior Kristi Katz (Park Ridge, Ill., Maine South HS), juniors Maddie Murphy (Wayne, Ill., St. Francis Prep) and Nicole Spear (Naperville, Ill., Central HS), sophomore Alessandra Bollero (Palm Beach, Fla., Cardinal Newman HS) and freshman Erica Woodall (Normal, Ill., U High) were those named to the all-region squad.
Franklin College’s Katie Tewell was honored as the PING NGCA Division III “Player of the Year” and Scott Moe of Gustavus Adolphus was chosen as the Division III SkyCaddie NGCA National “Coach of the Year.”

May 15
The Illinois Wesleyan women’s golf team moved up to fifth place from eighth after the third day of the NCAA Division III national championships at Centennial Oaks Golf Club in Waverly, Iowa on Thursday, May 15. The Titans have a team score of 955 (+91) after a third day total of 308. Nine-time defending champion Methodist (N.C.) remained in first with 915 (+51). Junior Nicole Spear (Naperville, Central HS) shot an 76 and is tied for 17th with a three-day score of 235 (+19) and Maddie Murphy (Wayne, St. Francis Prep) shot a team-best 74 and is tied for 23rd at 236 (+20). Susan Martin of Methodist shot a third day 75 and is the individual leader with a score of 221, ahead of Stephanie Mingos of Rhodes at 223. The four-day tournament concludes Friday, May 16. IWU is in the national tourney for the sixth time overall and the fourth consecutive season, IWU was sixth in 2007, 2006 and 2000, 10th in 2002 and eighth in 2005.

May 14
The Illinois Wesleyan women’s golf team is tied for eighth place at the midway point (after two rounds) of the NCAA Division III national championships at Centennial Oaks Golf Club in Waverly, Iowa on Wednesday, May 14. The Titans, who were tied for fourth after the first day, have a team score is 647, tied with Allegheny, as nine-time defending champion Methodist (N.C.) remained in first with 616. No IWU player shot better than 81 as senior Kristi Katz (Park Ridge, Maine South HS) had an 82 for a two-day score of 158 and is tied for 21st. Junior Nicole Spear (pictured, Naperville, Central HS) shot an 81 and is tied for 27th with a 159 (+15). Susan Martin of Methodist shot a second day 72 and is the individual leader with a score of 146. The four-day tournament continues through Friday, May 16. IWU is in the national tourney for the sixth time overall and the fourth consecutive season, IWU was sixth in 2007, 2006 and 2000, 10th in 2002 and eighth in 2005.

May 13
The Illinois Wesleyan women’s golf team is tied for fourth place after the first day of the NCAA Division III national championships at Centennial Oaks Golf Club in Waverly, Iowa on Tuesday, May 13. The Titans’ team score is 317, tied with Otterbein, as nine-time defending champion Methodist (N.C.) is in first with 307. Wesleyan senior Kristi Katz (Park Ridge, Maine South HS) is tied for fifth place with a 4-over par 76 on the 5,866-yard course and junior Nicole Spear (Naperville, Central HS) shot a 6-over 78 and is tied for 13th. Stephanie Mingos of Rhodes College carded a 71 and has the individual lead. The four-day tournament continues through Friday, May 16. IWU is in the national tourney for the sixth time overall and the fourth consecutive season, IWU was sixth in 2007, 2006 and 2000, 10th in 2002 and eighth in 2005.

April 20
The Illinois Wesleyan women's golf team won its own 16-team "Spring Fling" tournament April 19-20 at Normal's Ironwood Golf Course. The Titans shot a second day total of 317 to finish at 638 and come from behind to defeat first round leader DePauw, who carded a final day 325 and finished with a 639 total. Kristi Katz tied for ninth with a total of 159 (79-80) along with Erica Woodall (80-79). Lindsey Haines tied for 13th with a 161 total (81-80) and Nicole Spear had the low IWU round on the final day with a 78 and finished tied for 15th with a 162. Maddie Murphy had a 169 score (81-88) and tied for 38th.

April 19
The Illinois Wesleyan women's golf team is in second place after round one of its own "Spring Fling" tournament at Normal's Ironwood Golf Course on Saturday, April 19. The Titans have a team score of 321, trailing DePauw with 314. Kristi Katz had a 7-over par 79 and is tied for 10th while Erica Woodall is tied for 15th place with her first round score of 80. Lindsey Haines and Maddie Murphy are tied for 22nd place with scores of 81 and Nicole Spear shot 84 and is tied for 38th. The tournament concludes on Sunday, April 20.

April 5-6
Illinois Wesleyan placed five golfers among the top 16 individuals and finished second in the Wartburg Spring Invitational at Waverly, Iowa, on April 5-6. The Titans' team score on the final day was 329 for a two-day total of 666, behind only Gustavus Adolphus at 648 in the 11-team event, being played at Centennial Oaks Golf Course, the home of the 2008 NCAA Division III finals. Kristi Katz carded a second day 81 (nine-over par) to finish eighth with a 164 total and Nicole Spear had a 165 total to tie for ninth. Maddie Murphy (169, tie 12), Erica Woodall (171, tie 14) and Lindsey Haines (172, 16) were the other top IWU finishers.

March 21-23
The Illinois Wesleyan women's golf team finished eighth at the 26-team Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational at Jekyll Island, Ga., on March 21-23. The Titans carded a final day 644 to finish at 1015. Berry (Ga.) won the event with a 959 score. Lindsey Haines was the Wesleyan low scorer, shooting a final day 80 (+8) at the par 72, 5830-yard Indian Mound Golf Course to finish with a three-day total of 246, good for 16th place. Kristi Katz and Maddie Murphy tied for 28th with tournament totals of 254.

November 9
The Illinois Wesleyan women's and men's golf teams are ranked in the top 11 of the Division III polls published in the November 2 and 9 issues of Golf World magazine.The women's team, winners of six straight College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championships, are ranked No. 5 for the second straight ranking period, up from No. 7 in the previous rankings. The men's team moved up to No. 11 from No. 13 after making an earlier jump (in October) to No. 13 from No. 25 after a three-tournament fall schedule in which the Titans finished first twice and second once. Methodist (N.C.) is the top ranked team in both the men's and women's coaches' polls.
Go here for November 2 Rankings

October 19
The Illinois Wesleyan women's and men's golf teams are ranked in the top 13 of the Division III polls published in the Oct. 19 issue of Golf World magazine.The women's team, winners of six straight College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championships, are ranked No. 5 in the Golf World/National Golf Coaches Association poll, up from No. 7 in the last rankings. The men's team made a significant jump to No. 13 from No. 25 in the Golf World/Nike poll after a three-tournament fall schedule in which the Titans finished first twice and second once. Methodist (N.C.) is the top ranked team in both the men's and women's coaches' polls.

October 6
The Illinois Wesleyan women's golf team, ranked No. 7 in the latest Division III national poll, won its sixth consecutive College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship, firing a two-day total of 628 at Red Tail Run Golf Course in Decatur on October 5-6. Wheaton finished second with a score of 661. IWU's Alessandra Bollero carded a second day 78 on the par 72, 5865-yard layout and finished second at 154 while Kristi Katz recorded a two-day 158 and finished fourth. Erica Woodall was sixth with a 160 total and Nicole Spear, the first day leader, tied for seventh with a 161 total.

October 5
The Illinois Wesleyan women's golf team is halfway to winning their sixth consecutive College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship, leading the event after day one at Red Tail Run Golf Course in Decatur on Friday, Oct. 5. The Titans have a team total of 311, 14 strokes better than second place Wheaton at 325. Nicole Spear is tied for first with a 75 on the par 72, 5865-yard layout, while Alessandra Bollero is third with a 76 and Kristi Katz and Erica Woodall are tied for sixth with 80s. The tournament concludes on Saturday, Oct. 6.

October 3
The Illinois Wesleyan women's golf team aims for its sixth consecutive College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title this weekend (Oct. 5-6) at Red Tail Run Golf Course in Decatur, where the Titans won a 17-team tournament last weekend. The Titans, who are ranked No. 7 in the latest Golf World/National Golf Coaches Association Division III poll, will compete in the conference meet with Kristi Katz (at left), Alessandra Bollero, Nicole Spear, Erica Woodall, Maddie Murphy (winner of the Millikin Classic last weekend) and Abby Patten. Katiz is the team leader with an 81.3 stroke average, followed by Bollero at 81.4 and Murphy at 81.6.

September 30
Illinois Wesleyan's Maddie Murphy finished first (in a playoff) and the Titan women's golf team also finished first in the 17-team Millikin Red Tail Run Classic, held in Decatur September 29-30. Murphy carded a four-over par 76 on the par 72, 5865 yard layout and finished with a two-day 154 total, which was tied by DePauw's Ali Murtaugh. Kristi Katz finished third with a 159 total and Erica Woodall was 10th with a 165 score. As a team, IWU had a second day 321 for a total of 642 and topped second place DePauw (650) by eight strokes. The Titans gun for their sixth consecutive College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title next weekend (Oct. 5-6), held at the same course at which they won this tournament, Red Tail Run.

September 29
The Illinois Wesleyan women's golf team is tied for first place after the first day of competition at the Millikin Invitational, heled at Red Tail Golf Course in Decatur on Saturday, Sept. 29. The Titans' team score is 321 and tied with DePauw in the 17 team event. Maddie Murphy is tied for fourth with a six-over par 78 on the par 72, 5865 yard layout, while Kristi Katz is tied fror fifth with a 79 and Nicole Spear is tied for 11th with a first day 81. The tournament concludes on Sunday, Sept. 30.

September 23
The Illinois Wesleyan women's golf team finished second in the 14-team U. of Wisconsin-Whitewater Invitational, held September 22-23 at Prairie Woods Golf Club in Avalon, Wis. IWU's team score was 640, trailing only Wisconsin-Stevens Point with 638. Three Titan golfers tied for fifth with two-day scores of 161 on the par 72, 5,805 yard course - Kristi Katz (81-80), Maddie Murphy (81-80) and freshman Erica Woodall, who carded a second day 77 to total 161. IWU's next action will be at the Millikin Invitational in Decatur on September 29-30.

September 22
After the first day of play on Saturday, Sept. 22, the Illinois Wesleyan women's golf team is in first place (of 14) at the U. of Wisconsin-Whitewater Invitational at Prairie Woods Golf Club in Avalon, Wis. Alessandra Bollero is in third place with a 6-over par 78 and Nicole Spear in in fifth place with her 80. Kristi Katz and Maddie Murphy are in a tie for sixth place after their first round 81. As a team, IWU (with a score of 320) leads by six strokes over Wis.-Stevens Point (326) and by 11 over third place Lewis (331). The tournament concludes on Sunday, Sept. 23.

September 21
Sophomore Alessandra Bollero finished second overall and the Titans had five players in the top 10 as the Illinois Wesleyan women's golf team finished first at the six-team Carthage Invitational on Friday, Sept. 21 at Bristol (Wis.) Oaks Country Club. Bollero carded a 7-over par 79 while other Titans in the top 10 were Kristi Katz (82, tie-4th), Maddie Murphy (83, tie-6th), Abby Patten (85, 9th) and Erica Woodall (87, tie-10th). The Titans as a team had a total of 331, topping second place Wisconsin-Whitewater (337) by six strokes.

September 15-16
The Illinois Wesleyan women's golf team finished fifth (of 21 teams competing) at the IWU Fall Invitational, held at Normal's Ironwood Golf Course on September 15-16. The Titans' team score was 653 as Southern Indiana was the team leader at 619. Nicole Spear turned in the Titans' low score and finished tied for 19th with a two-round total of 162. Alessandra Bollero and Erica Woodall finished tied for 23rd with scores of 163. The Titans will play at Carthage on Sept. 21 in a six-team tournament then will play in a two-day tourney at Wisconsin-Whitewater on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22-23.

September 9
The Illinois Wesleyan women's golf team finished third of 14 schools competing in the Wartburg Fall Invitational at Centennial Oaks Golf Club in Waverly, Iowa on Sept. 8-9. The Titans' team score was 327 on day two for a total of 645, behind only Gustavus Adolphus (626) and St. Thomas (638). Alessandra Bollero was IWU's low finisher with a two-day total of 160, tying for sixth. Erin Bradley carded the low IWU round of the final day, shooting a 6-over par 78 to finish tied for 28th. IWU will host its own invitational Sept. 15-16 at Normal's Ironwood Golf Course.

September 2
The Illinois Wesleyan women's golf team finished first of 12 teams at the Illinois College Invitational, held at The Links Golf Course in Jacksonville, Ill., Sept. 1-2. IWU's team score was 637, topping second place William Woods (668). IWU's Nicole Spear carded a two-day total of 156 to place first while Alessandra Bollero was second at 157. Kristi Katz, Erin Bradley and Erica Woodall all tied for fourth with scores of 164. The Titans' next action will be Sept. 8-9 at the Wartburg Invitational.

September 1
The Illinois Wesleyan women's golf team is in first place of 12 schools competing in the Illinois College Invitational after the first day of play (Sept. 1) at the Links in Jacksonville, Ill. Alessandra Bollero is in first place overall with a 2-over par 74 and Nicole Spear is in second with a 77. As a team IWU has a 313 first day total, well ahead of second place William Woods at 333. The tournament concludes Sun., Sept. 2.

July 9
The Illinois Wesleyan women’s golf team finished second in the 2006-07 National Golf Coaches Association All-Scholar Team Grade-Point Average Award. The Titan team had a 3.774 grade-point average, second only to the Division I University of South Alabama with a 3.799 GPA. The award recognizes the women’s collegiate golf programs with the highest collective average team GPA which includes all of the team’s student-athletes for the 2006-07 season. In addition, seven IWU individuals were among the 63 Division III golfers named to the NCGA All-America Scholar Team. They are Alessandra Bollero, Lindsey Haines, Andrea Johanns, Kristi Katz, Alison Mayer, Taylor Paskell and Nicole Spear.

July 5
The Illinois Wesleyan women's golf team returns three players in 2007-08 who helped the Titans finish sixth for the second straight season in the NCAA Division III championships. Co-captain Kristi Katz (tied for 43rd in national tourney), Nicole Spear (49th) and Allesandra Bollero (tie-56th) head the list of returners for coach Kathy Niepagen as the team opens its 2007-08 season at the Illinois College Invitational at The Links in Jacksonville, Ill., September 1-2. The Titans will be gunning for their sixth consecutive College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title October 5-6 at Red Tail Run in Decatur.