University of Illinois
Clemson Invitational
No. 23 Illinois Ready for Clemson Invitational
April 6, 2019 | Women's Golf
Illinois is set for a three-day tournament at The Reserve at Lake Keowee in Sunset, S.C.
| Clemson Invitational | |
|---|---|
| When | April 7-9, 2019 |
| Where | The Reserve at Lake Keowee | Sunset, S.C. |
| Live Links | Scoring | Updates |
| More Information | Media Guide | Pairings | Tournament Central |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 23 Fighting Illini women's golf team makes their second appearance in the Palmetto state for the Clemson Invitational. Held at The Reserve at Lake Keowee in Sunset, S.C., the par-72 course registers 6,260 yards. This marks the first time in program history that the Orange and Blue have participated in this tournament.
"We are excited to add a new event to our tournament schedule," said head coach Renee Slone. "The competitive field will aid us in our readiness for the postseason. Looking forward to a strong finish to the regular season."
The Illini will be going against a strong field of 17 other teams that includes nine teams ranked in Golfweek's top 50 including No. 8 Vanderbilt, No. 10 Florida State, No. 14 Auburn, No. 17 Virginia, No. 18 Michigan State, No. 28 Purdue, host No. 31 Clemson, No. 37 Tennessee, and No. 46 LSU. Additionally, Illinois will face Augusta, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Tulane, Virginia Tech, and UNC Wilmington.
Of the 17 teams, three of the teams (Florida State, Auburn, and Virginia) advanced to the 2018 NCAA Championships, while six teams participated at NCAA Regionals alongside Illinois – Vanderbilt, Purdue, Tennessee, Clemson, Texas A&M, Michigan State, and Virginia Tech.
Illinois is also one of four teams representing the Big Ten, which includes Michigan State, Purdue, and Indiana.
Augusta National Women's Amateur participant, Tristyn Nowlin, makes her way back into the Illini lineup, along with senior Bing Singhsumalee, sophomore Ali Morallos, and freshmen duo Crystal Wang and Kornkamol Sukaree. Competing as an individual is freshman Katie Hallinan.
The tournament is 54-holes and will consist of 18-hole rounds for each of the three days from April 6-8 at 7 a.m. CT/8 a.m. ET. The awards ceremony will immediately follow the completion of the final round.
"We are looking forward to the challenge this golf course will provide and will take note of the many elevation changes during our preparations," noted Slone. "This will be a unique experience for many of our team members."
The Tournament Venue
The Clemson Invitational will be played at The Reserve at Lake Keowee (Par 72, 6,260 yards) in Sunset, S.C.
Jack Nicklaus placed his signature on The Reserve with a 7,112-yard masterpiece along the emerald waters of Lake Keowee with soaring views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As one of the most popular private golf courses in South Carolina, be ready to enjoy year-round golf and over-sized practice facilities, including a mobile shade canopy, short game area and putting green.
Nowlin Swings Back at Augusta National Women's Amateur
Fighting Illini women's golf junior standout Tristyn Nowlin made her comeback at the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur on Wednesday, April 3. The Richmond, Ky. native made history as one of the best 72 players in the world chosen to play at the prestigious event before the Masters Tournament.
Competitors took part in the first of two preliminary rounds that will decide who advances to the finals of the event, taking place on Saturday at the renowned Augusta National Golf Course. The Top-30 finishers after the first two rounds will earn a spot in the finals.
After round one, Nowlin has found herself within striking distance of the cutline. The junior is currently tied for 40th with a 76 (+4), only two strokes back of the top-30 cut line. After some bogeys, Nowlin recovered nicely with birdies on the third and seventh holes. During the second round, Nowlin battled through with a 77 (+5) on the day. She also posted three birdies including two on back nine.
Nowlin ended the tournament with a 153 (+9), placing 52nd overall. She also had the opportunity to participate in a practice round at the prestigious August National Golf Club. It has been the host for the annual Masters Tournament since 1934.
The top-30 golfers advanced to the finals that will begin on Saturday and air live on NBC from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. CT/Noon – 3 pm ET.
Next Round
With a quick turnaround, the Illini will close out the regular season at the Lady Buckeye Invitational in Columbus, Ohio on April 13-14. The Orange and Blue will be making their 14th consecutive appearance at the event, which includes a first-place finish from last season. During the 36-hole tournament, Tristyn Nowlin finished fourth with identical rounds of 72 (E).
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.
