March 11, 2007
RIO VERDE, Az.- The Orange and Blue women's golf team finished in 15th place at the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational hosted by Western Michigan University at the par-72 Quail Run Course at the Rio Verde Country Club. The Illini scored 309 in round one, 313 during second-round play, and carded a team total of 310 during play today, giving the Illini a 54-hole total of 932.
Junior Seul Ki Park (T21) remained the front-runner for the Orange and Blue during tournament action, shooting a 72 during the first round, 79 during the second, and a 77 during play today, giving her a 54-hole total of 228.
Following Park were fellow juniors Casey Burden tied for 35th (76-76-78= 230) and Kristine Cook in a tie for 60th (80-82-78= 236). Junior Kristin Kallergis made a leap to end action tied for 76th (82-81-77= 240), and senior captain Meghan Naik, who made her spring season debut this weekend since an ankle injury last fall, ended play tied for 86th (83-81-81= 245). Sophomore Nancy Featherstone (80-82-92= 254) rounded-out Illini tournament action tied for 102nd.
Baylor University came back during play today to regain the leader position and tournament title (289-300-297= 886). Following the Bears was Arkansas-Little Rock (889) in second place and Toledo in third (892). Baylor's Alison Martin (69-72-71= 212) took home first place individual honors.
Notably missing from the Orange and Blue line-up this week was junior Stephanie Mory, the team leader heading into the event.
"We were facing a bit of an uphill battle since Stephanie was out due to illness," said head coach Renee Slone. "Meghan (Naik) really stepped up to come and play. This was her first time really playing outside of just hitting balls since December. Her ankle seemed stronger, and now she has a better idea of where she is at in terms of recuperation."
Slone is realistic about what improvements the team will have to work on in the weeks to come as the spring season really gets underway.
"We are more improved from at Florida but still have a long way to go," Slone said. "We had way too many mental mistakes. Eliminating those will be a big focus before our next tournament."
The Illini can be caught in action in two weeks at the UC Spring Invitational beginning March 23rd, 2007 in Crystal River, Fla.
Team Totals
1 Baylor 289-300-297= 886
2 Arkansas-Little Rock 298-296-295= 889
3 Toledo 298-289-305= 892
4 Missouri State 305-299-296= 900
5 Texas Tech 300-304-302= 906
T6 Wisconsin 304-299-305= 908
T6 Western Michigan 304-300-304 =908
8 Eastern Michigan 303-308-304= 915
T9 Minnesota 310-299-311= 920
T9 Xavier University 306-308-306= 920
T9 Cincinnati 306-308-306= 920
12 Southern Illinois 307-297-317= 921
13 Illinois State 310-311-303= 924
14 Bradley 317-302-311= 930
15 ILLINOIS 309-313-310= 932
16 Bowling Green State 312-316-937= 937
17 Ohio 317-319-311= 947
18 Ball State 321-317-323= 961
Illinois Results
T21 Seul Ki Park 72-79-77= 228
T35 Casey Burden 76-76-78= 230
T60 Kristine Cook 81-77-78= 236
T76 Kristin Kallergis 82-81-77= 240
T86 Meghan Naik 83-81-81= 245
T102 Nancy Featherstone 80-82-92= 254
