March 17, 2000

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The University of Illinois women's golf team followed up on its fifth-place finish in the Springlake Intercollegiate last weekend by posting its second straight top 10 finish.

The Illini tied with Southern Illinois for fifth place at the Snowbird Intercollegiate by shooting a 627 at the 5,940 yard, 72-par Pebblecreek Golf and Country Club in Tampa, Fla. Illinois dropped nine strokes from its first round 318 to seal the top-10 finish.

The Illini freshmen continued to lead the squad. Renata Young shot the low round of the day for the Illini. Her 1-over par 73 placed her in a tie for 14th. The 73 was also the lowest round of her collegiate golf career. Laurin Kanda posted her second top-10 finish in as many tournaments. She finished eighth with a total of 151.

Stephanie Cheney shot a two-round total of 159 to tie for 40th. Fellow freshman Mari Walters competed as an individual. She tied for 88th with a 173.

Seniors Nell Macke, Lorette Lyttle and Christine Scott showed improvement on their final Spring Break trip.

Macke paced the seniors. She tied for 70th with a 167. Lyttle shot a 172 to finish in a tie for 86th. Competing as an individual, Scott tied for 80th with a 169.

The Illini take some time off before they travel to San Diego, Calif. for the Lady Aztec March 27-28.

Team Scores                               Illinois Individuals
 1. Arkansas State       305-307=612      8   Laurin Kanda           76-75=151
 2. Iowa State           311-303=614      T14 Renata Young           81-73=154
 3. Sam Houston State    311-306=617      T40 Stephanie Cheney       79-80=159
    North Texas          312-305=617      T70 Nell Macke             86-81=167
 5. Illinois             318-309=627      T80 Christine Scott (ind.) 80-89=169
    Southern Illinois    320-307=627      T86 Lorette Lyttle         82-90=172
 7. Maryland             318-312=630      T88 Mari Walters (ind.)    87-86=173
 8. Notre Dame           320-313=633
 9. Eastern Kentucky     317-318=635
10. Northern Iowa        329-314=643
11. Northern Illinois    329-314=643
    Bradley              328-315=643
    Elon College         325-318=643
14. Longwood College     336-315=651
15. Florida Southern     331-325=656
16. Eastern Michigan     338-320=658
17. Gardner-Webb         333-342=675
18. Illinois Wesleyan    365-341=706
19. John A. Logan Col.   367-351=718
20. Bellarmine College   372-356=728