14 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 14, 1998 Park, teammates seize time off Women's golf refining skills during three-week tournament layoff By Michael Kern For the Daily The Michigan women's golf team has had plenty of time to ponder the fall season and pre- 'pare for its final tournament of the fall over the past few weeks. The Wolverines haven't participated in a competition since the weekend of Oct. 3 when they played at home in the Wolverine Invitational. They don't play again until Oct. 23, when they travel to Bonita Springs, Fla., for the Notre Dame Invitational. This means that the Wolverines have three full weeks to work on their games both as a team and as individuals, in preparation for their final tournament of the season. "We have been practicing pressure situations in which (the players) are placed in a game or drill in which they have the pressure to succeed," Teichert said. The Wolverines have used this time to prac- tice aspects of their game that have been lacking in previous tournaments. For example, Michigan coach Kathy Teichert named the short game as the team's biggest problem. "Right now we are only making about 32 per- cent of our up-and-downs," Teichert said. "If we could improve that by about 20 percent, it would mean significant improvements in scoring." Whenever a team has as long a break between competitions as the Wolverines have had, the tendency is to become lackadaisical and lose that competitive edge. Players become bored with the repetition and constant monotony of practice. Teichert said she believes that drills and prac- tice matches help the players to feel like they are in competition. For example, in practicing their short game, the Wolverines will practice chip- ping at the hole from different distances and angles. "Ifa player doesn't get a certain percentage of her chips within a specific range of the hole, she has to start all over," Teichert said. On a team made up mostly of freshmen and sophomores, it has been up to senior Sharon Park to lead the team by example. A week and a half ago in the Wolverine Invitational, Park finished second among individual golfers and led the Wolverines to a fourth-place team fin- ish. Teichert said that Park has "the best short game and has the most fundamentally sound swing on the team," and the younger players lis- ten to what she has to say. Park was modest about being called a team leader, but said she tries to share her experience and watch the swings of the younger players. Michigan's hope is that these last few weeks of practice will pay dividends in the Notre Dame Invitational next week. There are seven Big Ten teams scheduled to participate and the Wolverines want to gauge themselves against the conference. "This is a chance for us to compare ourselves to the Big Ten again and see how we have improved," Teichert said. The last tournament that Michigan played in with as many conference opponents was a month ago in the Lady Northern Invitational in West Lafayette, Ind. The Wolverines finished 10th among I I Big Ten teams in that tournament citing weather and lack of experience as the main reasons for the poor performance. The characteristic most lacking on this sea- son's team has been experience, and the Wolverines' hope is that the last month has helped them gain the experience necessary to compete with the rest of the conference, Teichert said. "We have been struggling healthwise," Park said. "These last few weeks off have given us the chance to heal and practice our games." Park added that she hoped the practice would pay off, and that the team would be able to com- pete with the rest of the Big Ten in Florida. DANAUNNANE/Dal When she's not lining up putts, Sharon Park is offering sage advice to her fellow Wolverines on the golf course. SWEATER SALE Hand Knit Wool Sweaters from Nepal Tuesday, October 13 and Wednesday, October 14 from 10am-4pm On Sale in the Michigan Union and Pierpont Commons GET READY TO DROP THE PUCK AND THE GLOVES. TOMORROW, IN Injuries decimate M' stable of forwards If so, you might as well get paid for it! PC Data, a respected computer market research company, is try- ing to learn how people like you are using their com- puters. And we are willing to pay you for this infor- mation. All you have to do is go to our website at www.atpcdata.com and we'll show you how to quick- ly download our application. Once you do so, we'll pay you to take some quick (and easy) surveys, you'll get free long distance or frequent flier miles and a chance to win $1,000 every week! Believe us when we say that there is not an easier way to make some money! So the next time you log on your computer, be smart and go to www.atpcdata.com (or contact us at support@pcdata.com and we'll mail you a CD). After all, if you're going to waste your life away on your computer, you might as well get paid for it!! By T.J. Berka Daily Sports Writer The regular season may be only one game old, but it isn't evident by looking at the Michigan hockey team's injury list. The Wolverines, smarting from earli- er injuries to forward Craig Murray and center Scott Matzka, suffered another blow yesterday in practice when center Andrew Merrick went down to the ice after being checked along the boards. "Andrew went off with a bit of a hip pointer," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "We will assess his condition (today)" While Merrick is day-to-day, Murray's condition will be better gauged following a bone scan on his right leg today to test for a stress fracture. Murray, who suffered a deep muscle bruise in his leg Oct. 5, practiced late last week but was scratched from Sunday's game against Lake Superior. "We kept him off the ice (yesterday). so he felt a little better,' Berenson said. "He has been feeling pretty constant soreness, though." Matzka is probably feeling the best of the trio, although he is only a few days removed from a mild concussion suf- fered against Lake Superior. Matzka was planted into the boards late in the third period against the Lakers, making for a bloody mess. Matzka "feels good right now," Berenson said. "He's a little sore because of the stitches he has in the back of his head, but you need to be careful of injuries, so he won't skate until Friday." With forwards dropping like flies, Berenson said he plans to explore many options, such as moving Bob Gassoff from defense or giving fourth-line for- wards more ice time than usual. No matter what Berenson decides to do, the players will be ready when the puck drops against Niagara on Friday night. "I'm not sure yet what we are doing, forward Krikor Arman said. "We are just getting ready right now so we'll be pre- pared this weekend." FABULOUS FROSH: On Sunday, Josh Blackburn became the first Michigan freshman goaltender to start in the season opener since Steve Shields in 1990. Blackburn also won his first CCHA rookie of the week award, as he turned away all 14 Lake Superior shots in the 2- 0 Michigan victory. While Blackburn's start was pleasing, Berenson is keeping it all in perspective. "He did well, but you have to take it with a grain of salt;' Berenson said. "Individual awards are nice, but it's a team sport." WARREN ZINN/Day Senior forward Greg Crozier, who scored Michigan's first goal Sunday against Lake Superior, has thus far avoided the rash of injuries to Michigan's forwards. -t REC SPORTS INTRAMUJRALS The University of Michigan Department of Recreational Sports INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM WHAT'S HAPPENING II Forward, halt! Despite all the smiles around Yost Ice Arena after Michigan's 2-0 victory over Lake Superior, injuries have dampened the mood slightly. Below are the recent casualties of war: . Andrew Merrick, junior center: During yesterday's practice, Merrick took a rough check into the boards, causing a hip pointer. His status is day-to-day. Merrick already missed one game this season, sitting out against Guelph with a stomach virus. R Scott Matzka, sophomore center: Matzka suffered a concussion on Sunday and had to be helped off the ice. As a precautionary measure, he won't skate until Friday. oerrick S Craig Murray, freshman forward: Murray suffered a deep muscle bruise in his right leg during the Oct. 5 practice. He will undergo a bone scan procedure today due to continued soreness in the leg. W POWERBAR CROSS COUNTRY RUN ENTRIES DUE: Thurs 10/15, 4:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $25 per team $5 per individual RUN DATE: Sat 10/17 Mitchell Fields/Gallup Park 'Nd PRE-SEASON FLAG FOOTBALL ENTRIES TAKEN: Mon 10/19 to Weds 10/21 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $35 per team MANAGER'S MEETING: MANDATORY Thurs 10/22, 6:00 PM, IMSB TOURNAMENT BEGINS: Sat 10/24, Mitchell Fields ; :4 M A ' . '.L "4t0 i + PowERBAR GOLF SCRAMBLE TWO-PERSON ENTRIES DUE: Thurs 10/22,.4:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $20 per team plus Course Fees SCRAMBLE DATE: Sun 10/25 U of M Golf Course NOTE: The U of M Course has a spikeless shoe policy. 0 WALLYBALL ENTRIES TAKEN: Monday 10/26 ONLY 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM ENTRY FEE: $40 per team MANAGER'S MEETING: MANDATORY Weds 10/28, 7:00 PM, IMSB PLAY BEGINS: Thurs 10/29 IMSB 01 GET MONEY FROM YOUR UNCLE INSTEAD. Your Uncle Sam. Every fees. They even pay a flat rate vaar Arm ROTC awards for textbooks and sunplies. w r...w -w - ww - - w .9I Arr ,I 1 's dr A