Oct. 11, 2005
FRANKLIN, Ind. - Led by sophomore Seul Ki Park, the University Illinois women's golf recorded the fifth lowest 54-hole total in school history at the Shootout at The Legends on Tuesday.
Park and her teammates totaled 910, good for sixth place in a 19-team field. Previously the Orange and Blue set the school's fifth best total at 916 in 2003 at the NCAA West Regional and in 2002 at the Lady Northern Intercollegiate.
"We weren't even thinking about (records), head coach Paula Smith said. "That's pretty good. They worked hard. I was proud of my golfers. It was exciting to see the competing like that."
Individually, Park shot par (216) to tie for second place with Illinois State's Samantha Richdale, one stroke behind Kent State medalist Kira Meixner.
"I'm very excited, Park said. "I think I did really well, especially with the pressure of being tied for first after yesterday. Today it was really hard to focus on my shots because I was thinking of the score. I fought hard and just tried to focus on one shot at a time."
The Winnetka, Ill. native collected herself enough to make two birdies in her last three holes. The first was a 15-foot putt, and the second birdie missed a hole-in-one by an inch.
Park's three-round total tied for third in the Illini record book. Three-time All-American Renee Heiken carded a 216 in 1992.
"That's really an honor. When we got our media guide last year, I'd see the names, and I'd say, `That's cool. I want to do something.' I'm proud I could represent the team and the university."
Kent State tallied an 882 to win the Shootout, while Richdale's Redbirds (886), the Missouri Tigers (889) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish (890) finished within four strokes of one another.
Illinois now takes three weeks off, concluding the fall season with an Oct. 31-Nov. 1 tournament in Kiawah Island, S.C.
Shootout at The Legends Final Team Standings
1. Kent State 303-291-288=882
2. Illinois State 301-298-287=886
3. Missouri 301-293-295=889
4. Notre Dame 298-297-295=890
5. Toledo 305-294-299=898
6. ILLINOIS 305-300-305=910
7. St. John's 312-304-296=912
8. Louisville 312-302-299=913
9. Eastern Michigan 299-303-312=914
10. Campbell 313-302-300=915
11. Indiana 305-303-313=921
T11. Iowa 311-303-307=921
13. Georgetown 311-300-311=922
14. Northern Illinois 313-307-307=927
15. Cincinnati 311-307-313=931
16. Southern Illinois 315-314-314=943
17. Ohio 323-305-320=948
18. Rutgers 332-324-309=965
19. Ball State 319-317-337=973
Illinois Results T 2 Seul Ki Park 73-69-74=216 T 39 Megan Godfrey 77-76-77=230 T 50 Casey Burden 77-79-76=232 T 54 Stephanie Mory (ind.) 79-77-78=234 T 56 Meghan Naik 78-76-81=235 T 91 Nancy Featherstone 80-91-78=249
