April 29, 2006

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Already in last place, the Fighting Illini women's golf team did not get any help from Saturday's weather at the Big Ten Championships on the Indiana University Golf Course.

In contrast to Friday's ideal playing conditions, rain dampened the early part of round three and later gave way to wind gusts. Sophomore Seul Ki Park came closest to par for Illinois at four-over par in round three. Park finished day two in a three-way tie for 44th place with Indiana's Jenny Kim and Michigan's Ali Stinson after the Winnetka, Ill. native's two-stroke improvement netted her an upward bound of 10 places.

Friday's clubhouse leader Purdue maintained the team lead despite the climate. The Boilermakers actually subtracted a stroke from their round-two total and lead Michigan State by two strokes. Ohio State began Saturday tied with the Spartans but fell three shots behind MSU in the third round.

Northwestern's Alice Kim added one stroke to her lead and is two shots ahead of Michigan State's Sara Brown heading into Sunday's final round. Kim shot two-over par in round three but remains under-par (-2), the only player to hold that distinction in the 65-player field. Brown (E) surpassed Indiana's Elaine Harris (+1) on a day when there were many shifts on the individual leaderboard but few changes in team standings.

Top-ten changes other than Brown and Harris included Carling Coffing (OSU) moving up two positions into a tie for third; Maria Hernandez's (PUR) drop from a tie for third to a tie for fifth; Shannon Johnson's (IU) progress from a tie for eighth to a tie for fifth; Amy Schmucker's (MICH) climb from a tie for 10th to a share of 5th; Christel Boeljon (PUR) falling from a tie for fifth to eighth; Lindsay Davis' (MICH) one spot improvement from a tie for 10th to a tie for 9th; Myrtle Eikenaar (PUR) moved down one spot to a tie for ninth; Amy Riepma (IOWA) gained six places from a tie for 15th to a tie for 9th and Onnarin Sattayabanphot's (Purdue) identical improvement.

Sunday's forecast led the coaches to rule in favor of an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start for the final round.

Big Ten Championship results (through three rounds)
1. Purdue             290-296-295=881
2. Michigan State     296-294-293=883
3. Ohio State         293-297-296=886
4. Indiana            300-292-301=893
5. Michigan           296-301-298=895
6. Northwestern       297-303-302=902
7. Iowa               301-302-300=903
8. Penn State         303-302-299=904
9. Wisconsin          313-300-314=927
10. Minnesota         311-307-318=936
11. ILLINOIS          321-304-314=939

Illinois results T44. Seul Ki Park 81-78-76=235 T47. Stephanie Mory 80-76-80=236 T51. Meghan Naik 84-76-78=238 T53. Casey Burden 78-79-82=239 T53. Megan Godfrey 82-74-83=239 T60. Nancy Featherstone 85-82-80=247