Nov. 3, 2002

Las Croabas, Puerto Rico - The Illinois women's golf team shot a final round score of 319 today to finish in third place at the 25th annual Pat Bradley Women's Golf Championship, hosted by Florida International University at the par 72, 5,689-yard Wyndham El Conquistador Result Golf Course in Las Croabas, Puerto Rico. Illinois finishes in third place in the nine-team tournament with a 54-hole score of 922, 58-strokes over par. South Florida won the tournament with a score of 899 (+35) while Nebraska finished as runner-up with a score of 920 (+56), two strokes ahead of the Illini.

Senior Laurin Kanda led the Illini by tying for third place in the 52-player field. Kanda carded rounds of 73-72-80 for a final score of 9-over par 225. The third place performance by Kanda marks the highest individual finish of her career since earning runner-up honors at the Wolverine Invitational as a freshman.

Senior Renata Young also recorded a Top 10 finish, tying for sixth place with a score of 229, 13-over par. Senior Stephanie Cheney just missed finishing in the Top 10, tying for 11th place with a 231 (+15).

Rounding out the action for the Illini, junior Marla Cox tied for 24th (239), junior Michelle Carroll tied for 37th (247) and senior Carmel Sielicki placed 42nd (252).

Nebraska's Sarah Sasse captured medalist honors with a 54-hole score of even-par 216. South Florida's Fany Schaeffer finished in second with a 4-over score of 220, five strokes ahead of Illinois' Kanda.

This concludes the 2002 fall season for the Illinois women's golf program. The Illini will next be in action Feb. 10-11, 2003 at the Golden Panther Invitational in Miami, Fla.

Pat Bradley Women's Golf Championship Final Team Scores

1.    South Florida           296-306-297=899    +35
2.    Nebraska                311-302-307=920    +56
3.    ILLINOIS                312-291-319=922    +58
4.    Mississippi             307-301-316=924    +60
5.    Princeton               315-317-295=927    +63
6.    Florida International   322-316-327=965    +101
7.    East Tennessee State    322-312-332=966    +102
8.    Florida Atlantic        332-324-320=976    +112
9.    Eastern Kentucky        334-324-328=986    +122

Illinois Results

T3.    Laurin Kanda             73-72-80=225    +9
T6.    Renata Young             81-70-78=229    +13
11.    Stephanie Cheney         80-71-80=231    +15
T24.   Marla Cox                78-78-73=239    +23
T37.   Michelle Carroll         82-84-81=247    +31
42.    Carmel Sielicki (ind.)   87-85-80=252    +36