Jan. 30, 2010

Photo Gallery

VENICE, FLA. - Through windy conditions in the morning and rain in the afternoon, the Illinois women's golf team came out victorious in the Illinois Challenge, beating Illinois State by a score of 9-3. The second edition of the Challenge was played at the 6,260 yard, par 72 Sarasota National Golf Club in Venice, Fla., home to Illinois freshman Crystal Smith. The match play duel meet included morning four-ball matches and afternoon individual matches and served as a way to get both teams back in to the competitive mood after the winter hiatus.

The Illini started off well, winning all four four-ball matches in the morning. Sophomore Hailey Koschmann and Smith teamed up to beat Stacey Miller and Christine Larson, 3 & 1, sophomores Nora Lucas and Kaitlyn Wampler topped Terra Miller and Laura Harris, 1 up, junior Raquel Hopton and sophomore Katelin Dilger defeated Britt Knutson and Hannah Bachman, 3 & 1, and sophomores Maureen Liddy and Samantha Sloan teamed up to win against Marisa Milligan and Katie Jean. The pairs Hopton and Dilger and Liddy and Sloan recorded six birdies in their matches.

In the afternoon, the Orange and Blue continued to play well, needing only four points in the eight singles matches to win the Challenge and they did that and more, winning five matches in individual play. Illinois got wins from Hopton (5 & 4), Koschmann (6 & 5), Lucas (2 & 1), Sloan (4 & 3) and Wampler (4 & 3). With the five points from the individual matches, Illinois won the Illinois Challenge by a margin of 9-3.

"I was really excited about how they played," head coach Renee Slone said. "They worked well with their partners and really meshed well with each other. The competitive games in practice paid off because they came really focused and driven to succeed."

Illinois opens its spring tournament season on March 7-9 at the Eagle Landing Invitational in Orange Park, Fla.

ILLINOIS CHALLENGE RESULTS
Sarasota National Golf Club // 6,260 // Par 72

Morning Four-Ball Matches
Hailey Koschmann & Crystal Smith (ILL) def. Stacey Miller & Christine Larson (ISU) - 3 & 1
Nora Lucas & Kaitlyn Wampler (ILL) def. Terra Miller & Laura Harris (ISU) - 1 up
Raquel Hopton & Katelin Dilger (ILL) def. Britt Knutson & Hannah Bachman (ISU) - 3 & 1
Maureen Liddy & Samantha Sloan (ILL) def. Marisa Milligan & Katie Jean (ISU) - 5 & 4
Illinois led 4 points to 0 following four-ball matches

Afternoon Individual Matches
Britt Knutson (ISU) def. Katelin Dilger (ILL) - 1 up
Raquel Hopton (ILL) def. Marisa Milligan (ISU) - 5 & 4
Hailey Koschmann (ILL) def. Laura Harris (ISU) - 6 & 5
Hannah Bachman (ISU) def. Maureen Liddy (ILL) - 4 & 3
Nora Lucas (ILL) def. Christine Larson (ISU) - 2 & 1
Samantha Sloan (ILL) def. Katie Jean (ISU) - 4 & 3
Stacey Miller (ISU) def. Crystal Smith (ILL) - 4 & 3
Kaitlyn Wampler (ILL) def. Terra Miller (ISU) - 4 & 3
Illinois takes 5 points to ISU's 3 in individual matches

Illinois wins the Challenge 9-3