Nov. 5, 2007

Challenge at Wolfdancer Final Results

BASTROP, Texas - The Illinois women's golf team carded a fifth-place finish with a 54-hole total of 933 at the Challenge at Wolfdancer hosted by Texas State University. The lady golfers improved in each round of the tournament, tallying a final round score of 309 at the par-72 6,093-yard Wolfdancer Golf Club. Senior Seul Ki Park notched her second-best finish of the fall season, tying for second with a final round even-par 72.

Park tallied a 54-hole total of 221 (75-74-72) to finish four strokes behind tournament medalist Hannah Burke (72-78-67-217) of Baylor. Park's even-par 72 marks her second lowest round of the season behind her Shootout at the Legends opening round six-under 66. Her five-over 221 tournament total ranks 11th-best in school history and marks her second lowest tournament total of the season behind her school record-tying four-under 212 at the Shootout at the Legends.

"Seul Ki played a very steady and consistent tournament," said head coach Renee Slone. "She had a strong finish to a successful fall season."

Senior Kristine Cook wrapped up the tournament with a final round 83, tying her for 26th (79-76-83-238). Senior Stephanie Mory recorded a three-over 75 to finish tied for 30th (83-81-75-239).

"Stephanie [Mory] improved a lot today," Slone said. "She gave herself a lot of opportunities to put up lower numbers today."

Junior Nancy Featherstone added a final round 79 to tie for 36th (81-80-79-240). Freshman Raquel Hopton posted a final round 83 to finish tied for 52nd (78-84-83-245). Featherstone and Hopton each tied their low tournament totals and notched their best tournament finish of the fall season.

Illinois improved by two strokes in each round of play to notch its second top-five finish of the fall season. Northwestern (304-301-306-911) finished five strokes ahead of Iowa State (303-306-307-916) to earn the tournament victory. Middle Tennessee State (305-298-318-921) and Baylor (308-311-305-924) finished third and fourth, respectively.

"We are moving in the right direction," Slone said. "We improved in each round, but are still working on lowering that third and fourth score. It was a true placement golf course and a great tournament to finish the fall season."

The Challenge at Wolfdancer marks the final tournament of the fall season for Illinois. The lady golfers kick off the spring season at the Gainesville Shootout III on March 13-15.

FINAL TEAM LEADERBOARD 1. Northwestern 304-301-306 - 911 2. Iowa State 303-306-307 - 916 3. Mid. Tennessee St. 305-298-318 - 921 4. Baylor 308-311-305 - 924 5. ILLINOIS 313-311-309 - 933 6. North Texas 314-309-311 - 934 T7. Lamar 310-317-312 - 939 T7. Texas State 308-325-306 - 939 9. Boston College 320-310-314 - 944 10. Sam Houston State 313-311-325 - 949 11. Arkansas State 327-317-321 - 965 12. Texas A&M-CC 330-308-336 - 974 13. Texas-El Paso 331-314-334 - 979

FINAL ILLINOIS RESULTS T2 Seul Ki Park 75-74-72 - 221 T26 Kristine Cook 79-76-83 - 238 T30 Stephanie Mory 83-81-75 - 239 T36 Nancy Featherstone 81-80-79 - 240 T52 Raquel Hopton 78-84-83 - 245