Oct. 8, 2002

Franklin, Ind. - The Illini women's golf team fell one spot in the team standings during today's final round of play to finish in fifth place at the Shootout at The Legends, held at the par 72, 6,122-yard The Legends G.C. in Franklin, Ind. Illinois shot a final round score of 304 today to finish in fifth with a 54-hole score of 903, 39-strokes over par. Kent State won the 16-team tournament with a 24-over score of 888, 15 shots ahead of the Illini. Missouri finished second at 895, while Indiana placed third at 897.

The Illini had three golfers finish in the Top 20 individually, led by seniors Stephanie Cheney and Laurin Kanda. The duo tied for ninth place, each finishing 7-over for the tournament with scores of 223. Cheney jumped three places in the individual standings today with her final-round 74, improving from 12th to ninth. Cheney's 223 is the lowest 54-hole score of her collegiate career and marks the second-straight tournament that the Californian has finished in the Top 10, as she tied for 10th at the Lady Northern Sept. 28-29. Kanda, meanwhile, fell from third place to ninth after a final-round 78. Senior Renata Young improved from 26th place to a tie for 20th on the strength of her final round 73, the low round of the day today by the Illini. Young finished 11-over with a final score of 227.

Indiana's Karen Dennison claimed medalist honors in the 96-player field, finishing 4-under par (212) to defeat runner-up Malinda Johnson of Wisconsin by four shots (216). Kent State's Veronique Drouin took home third at 3-over (219).

The Illini return to action Oct. 21-22 at the Mission Inn Invitational in Deland, Fla.

Shootout at The Legends Final Team Scores

1.    Kent State         301-288-299=888    +24
2.    Missouri           298-297-300=895    +31
3.    Indiana            298-294-305=897    +33
4.    Wisconsin          302-301-299=902    +38
5.    ILLINOIS           303-296-304=903    +39
T6.   Michigan           308-299-301=908    +44
T6.   Northwestern       309-298-301=908    +44
8.    Minnesota          306-299-308=913    +49
9.    Iowa State         300-308-306=914    +50
10.   Kansas State       318-301-302=921    +57
11.   Kansas             309-306-310=925    +61
12.   Toledo             313-307-316=936    +72
13.   Notre Dame         316-309-318=943    +79
14.   Iowa               326-305-318=949    +85
15.   Eastern Michigan   322-317-313=952    +88
16.   Bradley            326-318-318=962    +98

Illinois Results

T9.    Stephanie Cheney   75-74-74=223    +7
T9.    Laurin Kanda       73-72-78=223    +7
T20.   Renata Young       77-77-73=227    +11
T55.   Marla Cox          85-73-79=237    +21
T63.   Michelle Carroll   78-77-84=239    +23
T89.   Mari Walters       83-82-89=254    +38