April 13, 2003

West Lafayette, Ind. - The Illini women's golf team tied for third place at the 13-team Lady Boilermaker Invitational, hosted by Purdue University at the par 72, 6,012-yard Kampen Course. The Illini shot a final-round score of 300 today to tie with Kent State for third, both teams finishing with 54-hole scores of 921. Tennessee won the tournament with a score of 904, edging out Purdue (905) by one stroke for the title.

Leading the way for the Illini was senior Laurin Kanda (Chico, Calif.). Kanda shot a final-round score of 1-over par 73 today, her lowest round of the spring, to improve to a tie for 14th place in the individual standings. She finished the tournament 13-over par with a score of 229.

Behind Kanda, the rest of the Illini played consistently as a total of just four strokes separated Illinois' second-through-fifth finishers. Junior Marla Cox shot a 233 to tie for 26th place, while senior Renata Young was just one stroke behind Cox, tying for 28th at 234. Fellow senior Stephanie Cheney finished just one stroke behind Young, tying for 30th with a 235. Junior Michelle Carroll's final-round 74 allowed her to jump to a tie for 36th in the final standings with a 237, two shots behind Cheney.

South Carolina's Kristy McPherson (competing as an individual) captured medalist honors, winning the tournament with a 2-over score of 216.

Illinois will be in town next weekend for its lone home appearance of the season. The Illini host the 9-team Illini Spring Classic, April 18-19 at Stone Creek Golf Club as part of Illini Spring Sports Fest.

Final Team Results

1.   Tennessee              298-307-299=904
2.   Purdue                 300-308-297=905
T3.  ILLINOIS               316-305-300=921
T3.  Kent State             311-308-302=921
T5.  Nebraska               311-320-306=937
T5.  Michigan State         305-318-314=937
7.   North Carolina State   313-315-310=938
T8.  Michigan               317-313-310=940
T8.  Wisconsin              316-313-311=940
10.  Iowa                   319-316-308=943
11.  Penn State             317-321-312=950
12.  Iowa State             318-323-315=956
13.  Northwestern           313-332-315=960

Illinois Results

T14.  Laurin Kanda       77-79-73=229   +13
T26.  Marla Cox          78-74-81=233   +17
T28.  Renata Young       79-78-77=234   +18
T30.  Stephanie Cheney   82-77-76=235   +19
T36.  Michelle Carroll   87-76-74=237   +21
T54.  Carmel Sielicki    82-83-81=246   +30