Sept. 12, 2011
Ptarmigan Ram Classic Day One Results 
| Live Scoring
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Illinois women's golf team finished the first day of the Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic in third out of 19 teams after posting a team total of 579 (+3), just four shots back of tournament leader UC Davis (-1) after 36 holes. The Illini fired a second round mark of 287 (-1), which ranks second in school history, while they opened the day with a score of 292 (+4), tying the sixth-best round in program history, at the par-72, 6,302-yard Ptarmigan Country Club.
"Everybody had a great attitude today," head coach Renee Slone said. "I know last year one of the things that we struggled with a little bit was getting off to a slower start the first round and then playing well in the second round. This tournament we got off to a solid start right out of the gate and then improved in the afternoon. This puts us right where we want to be."
Leading the Illini individually at three-under is sophomore Ember Schuldt (141), who is tied for third individually after a pair of rounds under par. The Sterling, Ill., native carded her second best round (70) at Illinois to start the day, where she posted three birdies and only one bogey. She followed it up with 71 in the second round, where she again tallied three birdies and a pair of bogeys. Schuldt leads the field in par-3 scoring, playing them at three-under, and is four shots back of UC Davis' Demi Runas (-7).
One stroke behind Schuldt is senior Hailey Koschmann, who posted a 142 (-2) and is currently in fifth place after notching rounds of 70-72. The Lake Forest, Ill., native matched her second lowest career round to open the tournament and is tied for the third-most birdies in the field with eight. Senior Nora Lucas is in 19th after rounds of 76-72, giving the Orange and Blue three golfers among the top-20.
Senior Samantha Sloan is tied for 28th after shooting a 77 in the first round and improving by five strokes with an even-par 72 in the second. Rounding out the Illini is senior Katelin Dilger, who is tied for 33rd after posting rounds of 76-74. The entire Illini squad remained consistent throughout the day, recording only one double bogey overall. Colorado sits just three shots in front of the Illini in second place at even par.
"We're giving ourselves an opportunity to win this golf tournament," Slone said. "We'll just go out tomorrow and focus on ourselves, play it one shot at a time, one hole at a time, and do what we need to do as individuals and as a team to be successful."
The third and final round of the Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic begins with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday. For live stats and a full recap of the final round, check Fightingillini.com.
