B1G Release

ROSEMONT, Illinois - Illinois sophomore Emily Joers has been named the Big Ten Golfer of the Week, announced by the conference office on Wednesday, Feb. 4. The weekly honor is the first collected by the Illini in spring of 2015 and the fourth overall on the season.

Joers collects the first Big Ten weekly accolade of her career following Illinois' 8-4 win at the Illinois Challenge on Sunday, Feb. 1 in Venice, Florida. The Waukesha, Wisconsin, native teamed up with Chayanid Prapassarangkul to lock down a 3&2 win over Illinois State's Luchtenburg and Cooper tandem. Individually, Joers was the first back to the clubhouse after knocking off Luchtenburg by an 8&7 decision. The Illini sophomore shot even par along the way.

The 8-4 win at the Illinois Challenge marked Illinois' seventh straight win at the event. Illinois and Illinois State have participated in the event since the 2008-09 season.

"Emily is playing well and her confidence level is high," said head coach Renee Slone. "All areas of her game are strong due in large part to some high quality practice sessions over winter break."

During the fall, Dana Gattone earned the Golfer of the Week honor the week of Sept. 10 while Stephanie Miller claimed the accolade the weeks of Oct. 23 and Nov. 5.

Illinois will be back in action at the Westbrook Spring Invitational in Peoria, Arizona, from February 22-23.