USI Women's Golf Outlook

2005-06 USI Women's Golf Outlook
USI women's golf becoming a regional power

The University of Southern Indiana women's golf team will not be sneaking up on anyone any more.

The Screaming Eagles have made two straight NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, finishing fourth each year. USI also finished second in the GLVC Tournament each of the last two seasons.

Overall, the Eagles have taken significant steps in the five years under Head Coach Don Bisesi and could be set for a real celebration in the 10th year of the program's existance.

The Eagles are led into the season by the GLVC individual champion, senior Alisha Luigs. Luigs led USI in seven tournaments and averaged a team-best 77.8 strokes per round (spr) over 23 rounds and 12 tournaments.

She set the USI 18-hole and 36-hole record in winning the GLVC crown, shooting a 146 (69-77).

Joining Luigs in returning to USI for their senior seasons are Carly Ellard and Tara Ulmer.

Ulmer, who earned All-GLVC honors as a junior, was third on the team in 2004-05, shooting an 83.3 spr in 11 tournaments and 21rounds of golf. The 83.3 spr average was a career-best for Ulmer, who has knocked 11 strokes off her average since her freshman season.

Ellard became one of USI's top five golfers during the spring half of 2004-05. She played in eight tournaments last spring, averaging 90.0 spr for the year.

Second leading returner from last year is sophomore Audrey Ramsey. Ramsey, who earned All-GLVC honors last spring, led the Eagles in the NCAA II East Regional, shooting a three-round 244 (78-82-84). She averaged 82.0 spr over 23 rounds and 12 tournaments as a freshman.

The Eagles also will look for contributions from returning juniors Jennifer Dragan and Ashley Ramig. Ramig averaged 89.5 spr over 17 rounds and eight tournaments, leading the Eagles in the Illinois Spring Classic, while Dragan averaged 93.0 spr in two tournaments as a sophomore.

Bisesi and the Eagles will have four freshmen newcomers -- Kayla Roark, Audrey Wells, Tara Wiley, and Natalie Wolf -- in 2005-06.

Roark comes to USI from DeKalb High School where she was a member of the 2004 conference and sectional championship team. She holds the school records for most first-place finishes and the lowest nine-hole score (34).

The All-Area performer also has the school’s second-lowest average in school-history.

Roark won the 2003 Club Championship in junior golf and took home five Mountain Dew Junior Tour Championships in 2003 and 2004. She also won multiple tournaments around the Ft. Wayne area.

Wells earned seven varsity letters in golf and basketball at Reitz High School and was seventh this past fall at the Evansville City Championships.

Wells, who finished ninth on the Indiana Mountain Dew Junior Tour, has recorded first-place finishes at the Sunrise Golf Course (Madison) and the Phil Harris Golf Course (Linton) this season.

Wiley was a four-time All-Conference performer at Benton Central High School and was a sectional and regional medalist as a senior as well as an All-State performer. She also was BCHS’s MVP all four seasons and led BCHS to two sectional titles as well as a trip to the IHSAA State Championship meet.

In junior golf , Wilely was a two-time Central Indiana Junior Golf Association Girls Player of the Year.

A graduate of Mater Dei High School, Wolf is a three-time All-Conference and two-time All-City performer as well as a two-time regional qualifier.

In 2004, Wolf finished first at the Christmas Lake Golf Course (Santa Claus) in the Indiana Mt. Dew Junior Tour. She also recorded third-place finishes at the Quail Crossing Golf Course (Boonville) and the Cascades Golf Course (Bloomington).

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