Schedule

Champaign, Ill. - The Fighting Illini Women's Golf program has announced its schedule for the upcoming 2017-18 season. This year's campaign has a similar schedule as last year, but will feature two tournaments that the Illini have never competed in before.

"The benefits of playing on different courses helps the team adapt to different conditions and can provide them with an opportunity to expand their skill sets as different shots may be needed," said head coach Renee Slone. "A player's game needs to be able to travel and adapt to the variety of things one may face when playing different courses in different parts of the country."

Illinois will begin its season at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate (Sept. 18-19) held in Knoxville, Tennessee. It will be the third-consecutive appearance for the Orange and Blue at the tournament, which is hosted by Tennessee. Following the trip to Knoxville, the Illini will play in the Coeur D'Alene Resort Collegiate, which will be held in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, from September 26-27. This will mark the first time the Illini have competed in this event, hosted by Gonzaga.

"[Coeur D'Alene] is a world famous resort that is going to provide us with a unique experience," Slone said. "Not many of our golfers have played in that part of the country so It will be a great experience for them."

The final three trips of the fall season for the Illini include two stops in Kentucky as well as one trip to Georgia. UI will take part in the Bettie Lou Evans Invite, hosted by Kentucky from October 6-8. The Illini will then play in the annual Cardinal Cup (Oct. 21-22), hosted by Louisville in Simpsonville, Kentucky. To conclude the fall schedule, Illinois will travel to Johns Creek, Georgia, for the first ever Ladies Fall Intercollegiate Invitational. The invitational, hosted by Louisville, will span from October 27-29.

"We've played well in the past at Louisville so I think that will set us up well leading up to that next event at the Atlanta Athletic Club," Slone said. "Some of these courses will be a once in a lifetime experience for our athletes and will feature some fantastic competition."

The Illini will have a four-month break from competition from the end of fall and the beginning of the spring slate before kicking things off with a trip to Peoria, Arizona, to compete in the Westbrook Spring Invitational, February 25-26. The event, hosted by Wisconsin, is a frequent stop for the Illini, as this season will mark Illinois' seventh-straight appearance at the event.

"The people draw us back to Arizona," Slone said. "We stay with host families and they are fantastic. They are very supportive of our team and they go all out. The golf course is in a little community and they really pull out all the stops and it's very neat to see the support."

The team will head back out West in March to play in the Meadow Club Women's Intercollegiate, which will be held in Fairfax, California, March 5-6. It will be the team's second appearance in the tournament. Following a two week break, Illinois will travel East to Johns Island, South Carolina, for the Briar's Creek Invitational starting March 19. The Illini will then have a quick turnaround as the team will play in the Mountain View Collegiate, held in Tucson, Arizona, from March 23-25.

Illinois will conclude its regular season at the Lady Buckeye Invitational. The event is hosted by Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, from April 15-17.

"The Scarlet course is a demanding golf course and it sets us up well for the postseason," said Slone." "It gets us in that mindset and enables us to work on some key areas that will have us well prepared."

The Big Ten Championships will mark the start of postseason play for the Illini. The Championships will be held from April 20-22 at TPC River's Bend in Maineville, Ohio. NCAA Regionals are scheduled for May 7-9, and the NCAA Championships will take place in Stillwater, Oklahoma, from May 18-23.

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