The Wolverine

  OLYMPIC SPORTS WOMEN'S GOLF First Event: Sept. 13‑15, Cougar Clas‑ sic at Hanahan, S.C. Big Ten Predicted Finish: Top four. NCAA Best-Case Scenario: NCAA re‑ gionals (top 72 teams). Coach's Expectations: " With our fifth‑place Big Ten finish this past year, they gained a lot of great experience, and I think our team's expectations are higher," third‑year coach Jan Dowling said. "I think our confidence has grown a lot in the past year. "Our finish was a great motivation for the summer, and for our program coming into this season. We believe our freshmen will contribute right away, and they're pushing everyone. When that happens, we're getting better as a team." Top Players: Junior Grace Choi and sophomore Megan Kim share a com‑ petitive rivalry that brings out the best in both of them. Each led U‑M in three events a year ago, with Choi holding a slight edge in scoring average (75.65 strokes per round compared to Kim's 76.04). The duo should continue to lead Michigan by producing the team's con‑ sistently best scores. "Grace has the even‑keeled, mature demeanor — not only in golf but every‑ thing she does," Dowling said. "She sets high expectations for herself, but she is very good at keeping those expecta‑ tions at bay when she has any troughs or high peaks of getting to where she wants to be in golf. "Megan is one of the best competi‑ tors I've ever met in my life. She just switches into a gear when we play tournaments. "Meghan is the more explosive player, and Grace is more consistent. To have both of them as a leaders from a scor‑ ing standpoint and leadership stand‑ point is awesome." Athletes To Watch: Senior Catherine Peters and sophomore Emily White both enjoyed successful summers, with Peters competing in the Meijer LPGA Classic, and White placing third at the Michigan Women's Amateur Open. "Emily is still a very young player, as far as golf experience," Dowling said. "She only got into competitive golf midway through her high school career, but she has come on very nicely and is gaining some serious confidence. "Cat missed the cut [at the LPGA event] but the experience you gain from being around professionals, and noticing what they do in practice rounds … noticing their good shorts aren't necessarily better than yours but that their bad shots are better than yours, and they rarely make mistakes. It's a great motivation for Cat." Don't Miss: Michigan will not com‑ pete in a home tournament this year, including the spring session. ❏ Hear a fall preview on the women's golf team with coach Jan Dowling. CLICK THE ICON TO PLAY OR STOP THE PODCAST

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