March 24, 2006

CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. - Day one of the Plantation Inn Invitational is complete and Illinois is in the clubhouse with the lead.

Sophomore Stephanie Mory (76) finished one stroke behind Wichita State's Jamie Raines for the overall lead, but her teammates combined for a 313 to help the Illini take a 14-stroke lead over UAB and Wichita State on the par 71 6171-yard Plantation Inn Golf Course on Friday afternoon.

Sophomore Casey Burden and junior Meghan Naik needed two more shots than Mory and, along with Cincinnati's Hillery Wilson, tied for fourth in the opening round. Sophomore Seul Ki Park and senior Megan Godfrey ended the day one stroke apart, while Orange and Blue individuals, freshman Nancy Featherstone and senior Megan O'Neal, compared favorably with their teammates. Unfortunately for Illinois, sophomore Kristine Cook re-aggravated her wrist and could not finish her round.

Frost forecast for Saturday may delay individual tee times that are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. while accelerating the already-fast greens.

Plantation Inn Invitational (Round one results)
1.       ILLINOIS           313
T2.      UAB                327
T2.      Wichita State      327
4.       Cincinnati         329
5.       Marshall           339

Illinois results 2. Stephanie Mory 76 T4. Casey Burden 78 T4. Meghan Naik 78 T8. Seul Ki Park 81 T8. Nancy Featherstone (ind.) 81 T11. Megan Godfrey 82 T14. Megan O'Neal (ind.) 83 T23rd. Kristin Kallergis (ind.) 86 32. Kelsey O'Neal (ind.) 94 WD Kristine Cook (ind.)