April 22, 2006

DUBLIN, Ohio - In the final tournament prior to next week's Big Ten Championships, Illinois almost maintained its first-round pace in Saturday's Lady Buckeye Invitational play despite gusty conditions and water hazards on 17 of 18 holes at the Golf Course of Dublin. Head coach Paula Smith's golfers followed the 305 they tallied in round one with a 309 over the second 18 holes and are 13th heading into Sunday's final 18.

"Probably what tells it all is that 17 holes have water," Smith said. "There's a lot of trouble out there. I thought they did some really good things today. They learned a lot and everybody's eager to go out tomorrow."

The Orange and Blue had not played 36 holes in a single day since the fall but needed only four more strokes in the second round before ending the day with short-game practice. Saturday's first-round total marked the fourth time Illinois has carded a 305 this spring and is the best total since the Illini recorded even 300s twice in the fall.

SEC Player of the Year Maria Martinez and Auburn junior Nicole Hage ended Saturday in first and second place, and sophomore teammate Margaret Shirley tied for sixth. The Tigers lead Purdue by 15 strokes. Florida is one stroke behind the Boilermakers after an opening-day 584.

Lady Buckeye Invitational results (through two rounds)
   1. Auburn                                       288-280=568
   2. Purdue                                       287-296=583
   3. Florida                                      289-295=584
   4. Michigan State                               290-297=587
   5. Kent State                                   287-302=589
   6. Louisiana State                              293-300=593
   7. Penn State                                   295-301=596
   8. Ohio State                                   297-301=598
   T9. Wisconsin                                   306-299=605
   T9. Northwestern                                300-305=605
   11. Georgia State                               304-303=607
   12. Indiana                                     306-307=613
   13. ILLINOIS                                    305-309=614
   14. Ohio State (Gray)                           308-309=617
   15. Minnesota                                   321-315=636

Illinois Results T28. Seul Ki Park 76-74=150 T48. Casey Burden 76-77=153 T60. Meghan Naik 75-81=156 T60. Stephanie Mory 78-78=156 T65. Megan Godfrey 79-80=159