April 15, 2011

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Illinois women's golf team will be competing in their final tournament of the regular season, as the Illini travel to Columbus, Ohio, for the Lady Buckeye Invitational, hosted by Ohio State University on April 16-17. The 54-hole event will be played at the par-72, 6,228-yard Ohio State University Scarlet Golf Course and will have the first two rounds of play on Saturday, followed by the third and final round on Sunday. Each day will start with a shotgun start of 8:30 a.m., with the four best scores of six individual scores compromising the total team score.

"After our previous tournament at Indiana I did challenge them that now is the time to really step up and really put everything you absolutely have into everything that we're doing," head coach Renee Slone said. "I told them `don't leave anything on the table. We need everybody giving everything they absolutely have.' Obviously we need that the entire year, but specifically really try to step up and make that extra effort in these coming weeks."

Illinois, ranked at No. 62 in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, will be joined in the 12-team field by nine Big Ten schools including No. 22 Michigan State, No. 31 Ohio State, No. 38 Minnesota, No. 39 Northwestern, Indiana, Iowa, Penn State, and Wisconsin, along with No. 16 Iowa State, No. 34 Kent State, and Xavier.

"There are some high quality teams in this event that are highly ranked," Slone said. "There are a number of teams that are currently ranked high than us, which provides us a wonderful opportunity to have a good tournament and come out ahead of a number of these teams, which will only serve to help us."

Illinois is coming off a third place finish at the Indiana Invitational, where weather forced the tournament to shorten to 36 holes. Illinois (619) had rounds of 314-305 to finish third of 15 teams, only four strokes off runner-up Eastern Michigan. The Illini were led individually by junior Nora Lucas (149) with rounds of 74-75 to finish at five-over par and placed fifth. It was Lucas's best career finish as an Illini.

"The team is confident and have had some very productive practices," Slone said. "They have really prepared well for the Scarlet course and we've done some specific things to prepare for that golf course. I think they are in a good place both physically and mentally, and are looking forward to a great tournament in Columbus."

Last year at the Lady Buckeye Invitational, the Illini finished ninth as a team with juniors Katelin Dilger and Hailey Koschmann leading the way for Illinois individually. Dilger and Koschmann had 54-hole totals of 245 and placed in a tie for 38th at 29-over par. Illinois is looking to improve their placement at this year's event.

"A good tournament will aid in the confidence department heading into Big Ten's," Slone said. "Weather-wise, I think just realizing what the conditions will be and being mentally and physically prepared for that is important. Just having a good, solid tournament this weekend will definitely send us into Big Ten's on a high note."

For coverage of the Illinois women's golf team at the Lady Buckeye Invitational, visit fightingillini.com for a full recap at the end of each day's action. Fans can also follow the action live by going to golfstatresults.com.