MAINEVILLE, Ohio – The No. 21 Illinois women's golf team is currently leading the field of 14 teams after the first day of the Big Ten Championships at the par-72, 6,357-yard course at TPC River's Bend in Maineville, Ohio on Friday. The team leads the field with 14 birdies, which contributed to their 291 (+3) total. 

"Really proud of the positive attitudes the team displayed today," said head coach Renee Slone. "They embraced the conditions and stayed patient throughout the day. The team was mentally prepared for the elements."

Four out of the six donning the Orange and Blue finished in the top 15. Freshman Kornkamol Sukaree was the low Illini for the day, firing a 1-under par 71 to finish in a three-way tie for first. Leading the field in birdies is junior Tristyn Nowlin, who posted five. Nowlin is also tied for fourth overall with an even par-72. Senior Bing Singhsumalee and freshman Crystal Wang are both tied for 14th with 74 (+2). Singhsumalee posted four birdies, including three on the back nine holes.

Rounding out the six-person team is freshman Katie Hallinan tied for 48th with a 78 (+6) and sophomore Ali Morallos in 74th place with 82 (+10).

The Illini are atop of the leaderboard, while Ohio State and Indiana are three shots behind in second-place with 294 (+6). Rounding out the top four are No. 18 Michigan State and No. 33 Purdue, both recording 297 (+9).

The second round of play has been pushed back to 8:30 a.m. CT on Saturday. With a 10:18 a.m. CT tee off, the Illini will be paired with Ohio State and Indiana. The Illini will tee off in the order of Morallos, Hallinan, Wang, Singhsumalee, Nowlin, and Sukaree.

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