MAINEVILLE, Ohio – After weather conditions caused the second round of play at the Big Ten Championships to be canceled, the 19th-ranked Fighting Illini women's golf team finished in a three-way tie for second-overall with 578 (+2) on Sunday afternoon at TPC River's Bend. The score also marks the second-best 36-hole tournament score in program history. Also, the runner-up finish matches the program's best finish at the tournament that was also earned in 1976 and 2018.
"Ideal scoring conditions today," said head coach Renee Slone. "We got off to a strong start today and made some errors coming down the stretch."
Four Illini earned top-15 individual finishes. Leading the way were freshmen duo Crystal Wang and Kornkamol Sukaree, who both tied for eighth place. Their even-par 144 ties the fifth lowest 36-hole tournament total in program history, joining current teammate Tristyn Nowlin. During the first round, Sukaree was the low Illini, firing a 1-under par 71. Wang finished under-par the final day with 2-under par 70. Nowlin and senior Bing Singhsumalee both posted 145 (+1), tying for 11th overall. During the first round, she finished with an even par-72 and five birdies. Singhsumalee was under-par in the final round with 71 (-1), while also finishing with the second-highest birdie total with nine.
Freshman Katie Hallinan tied for 42nd with a two-round total of 151 (+7). She improved in the final round, recording a 73 (+1) and posting four birdies. Sophomore Ali Morallos carded a 75 (+3) on Sunday after an 82 (+10) on Friday to tie for 72nd overall.
As a team, Illinois was the best in the field at 13-under in par-5 scoring, along with tying No. 20 Michigan State and No. 30 Purdue with the highest birdie total of 31. The Orange and Blue was also third overall at 15-over in par-4 scoring.
Ohio State won the championship at 1-under par, while No. 49 Indiana and No. 30 Purdue tied the Illini for second at two-over par. 2018 Big Ten Champions, Michigan State, round out the top-five with 580 (+4).
"Always a positive to be in the mix and something to be learned from every round," noted Slone. "This will certainly serve as motivation for NCAA Regionals."
Up next, the Illini will await their postseason regional assignment. The NCAA Women's Golf selection show is slated for Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. CT on the Golf Channel. The road to the NCAA Championships will feature 18 teams and six individuals. The four regional sites in 2019 include Saugahatchee Country Club, in Opelika, Ala. (Auburn), Tumble Creek Golf Club in Cle Elum, Wash. (Washington), Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla. (Oklahoma), and Forest Akers West Golf Course in East Lansing, Mich. (Michigan State).
The six teams and three individuals with the lowest scores that are not on teams from each regional will advance to the 2019 NCAA Division I Women's Golf National Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. from May 17-22.
Follow the Illini
Stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com for all the latest information on Fighting Illini Women's Golf. Follow the Orange and Blue on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for complete coverage.Â
