Nov. 2, 2010
AUSTIN, Texas -
The Illinois (890) women’s golf team battled cold and windy conditions at the Challenge at Onion Creek to move up one spot to finish third out of fifteen teams on Tuesday. Illinois had a final round 313 on the par-70, 6,000-yard Onion Creek Country Club to finish the tournament at 50-over par. While Monday’s conditions were close to ideal, Tuesday at Onion Creek proved to be 15 to 20 degrees colder, with the wind being a significant factor.
“The conditions today were far more challenging and very different than yesterday,” head coach Renee Slone said. “Given the scores we posted, we know that we left some shot out there and could have played better. However, it’s always a positive when you can move up the leader board on the final day.”
The Illini were led individually by Junior Katelin Dilger (221), with a final round 76, and Freshman Ember Schuldt (221), with a third round 83. Both finished in a tie for 11th at 11-over par. Dilger’s 221 is her career low 54-hole total and it is also the best finish she has had as an Illini.
Junior Hailey Koschmann (223) carded a final round 78 to finish in a tie for 18th at 13-over par. Junior Samantha Sloan (232) ended the tournament with a third round 76 to finish in a tie for 49th at 22-over par. Junior Nora Lucas withdrew from the tournament before the final round commenced on Tuesday.
“We’ve certainly made some progress,” Slone said. “Every tournament we’ve had some success, which is great. Now the next piece of the puzzle is putting together three solid rounds at a single tournament. We’re getting close, but now it’s just working on that consistency and doing some of the little things that need to be done in order for that consistency to come through.”
No. 26 Iowa State (884) took home the team title with only a three stroke advantage over second place Arkansas-Little Rock (887) and a six stroke advantage over third place Illinois. Rounding out the top five were Augusta State (895) and Indiana (897). Denver’s Tonje Daffinrud and Arkansas-Little Rock’s Megan Vaughn tied for medalist honors after both scored a 54-hole total of 214, four-over par.
“We’re definitely moving forward,” Slone said. “It’s always a nice confidence boost to experience these good things and put ourselves in the positions like we did today, to being in the thick of things and have an opportunity to win the golf tournament. Now it’s a matter of just getting those little things done to get us over the hump.”
The Challenge at Onion Creek marks the end of the fall season for the Illini. The Orange and Blue will next be in action early in the New Year as they travel to Venice, Fla., for the Illinois Challenge, a duel match event with Illinois State University on Jan. 29.
3 ILLINOIS 296-281-313 = 890 (+50)
T11 Ember Schuldt 71-67-83 = 221 (+11)
T11 Katelin Dilger 75-70-76 = 221 (+11)
T18 Hailey Koschmann 74-71-78 = 223 (+13)
T49 Samantha Sloan 76-80-76 = 232 (+22)
-- Nora Lucas 78-73-W = ---
