March 14, 2004

St. Croix, VI. - The Illinois women's golf team finished in eighth place at the inaugural St. Croix Collegiate Classic, hosted by Xavier at the 6,020 yard, par 72 Carambola Golf Club in St. Croix, Virginia. Southern Methodist won the 14-team tournament with a score of 916, which was 13 shots better than second place Baylor.

Senior Marla Cox led the Illini with a final round score of 78. Cox's 78 gave her a 54-hole total of 233, which tied her for ninth place. Finishing one shot behind Cox was sophomore Megan Godfrey, who tied for 11th with a final round score of 80. Other Illini in action this weekend were freshman Meghan Naik (T-60) with a final round 85 and junior Lindsey Milligan (T-68) with a 91. After sitting out the second round, senior Michelle Carroll returned in the final round to shoot an 85. Samantha Richdale of Illinois State took the individual title with a 226, one shot better than Southern Methodist's Kristina Rothengatte.

The Illini return to action March 19-21 at the Baylor/Tapatio Springs Shootout in Boerne, Texas.

Final Team Standings
1.    Southern Methodist         296-311-309=916
2.    Baylor                     306-314-309=929
3.    Texas Tech                 317-321-309=947
4.    Illinois St.               318-318-322=958
T5.   Xavier                     326-310-323=959
T5.   Notre Dame                 316-327-316=959
T5.   Boston College             326-310-323=959
8.    ILLINOIS                   319-328-328=975
9.    Texas Pan-Am               342-328-317=987
10.   Wyoming                    328-323-337=988
11.   Texas St.                  336-323-334=993
12.   Longwood                   346-332-322=1000
13.   Wichita St.                332-339-335=1006
14.   Rend Lake                  368-370-374=1112

Illinois Results T9. Marla Cox 77-78-78=233 +17 T11. Megan Godfrey 79-75-80=234 +18 T60. Meghan Naik 87-87-85=259 +43 62. Megan O'Neal (ind.) 86-87-88=261 +45 T68. Lyndsey Milligan 90-88-91=269 +53 WD. Michelle Carroll 76-WD-85