SUNSET, S.C. – After thunderstorms caused the final round of play at the Clemson Invitational to be canceled, the 22nd-ranked Fighting Illini women's golf team finished fourth with the program's best 36-hole tournament total of 574 (-2). By five, the par surpasses the previous record (579 (+3)) earned at the Lady Buckeye Invitational last season. The Orange and Blue also recorded their seventh top-five finish on the season.
Illinois was led by freshman Kornkamol Sukaree, who surpassed former Illini Grace Park for the best 36-hole tournament finish in program history with 140 (-4). Sukaree was in a five-way tie for eighth in a deep field. Returners Tristyn Nowlin and Bing Singhsumalee also made the record books with their 36-hole totals. Nowlin tied for 18th, matching Illini legend, Becky Beach, for the third-lowest 36-hole tournament total with 143 (-1). Singhsumalee has the 10th best 36-hole total with a 145 (+1). The lone senior previously posted this last season at the Meadow Club Intercollegiate, where she finished in the top ten.
Freshman Crystal Wang was close behind Singhsumalee with a 146 (+2). Rounding out the fivesome was sophomore Ali Morallos, who finished in 90th place with 157 (+13). Individually, freshman Katie Hallinan finished in a four-way tie for 65th with a 149 (+5).
Finishing at the top was No. 8 Vanderbilt with an impressive 555 (-21), while NCAA Championships participant, Auburn, finished second with 563 (-13). Rounding out the top-three was host Clemson at 568 (-8). A par behind was SEC Texas A&M, who finished fifth with 575 (-1). As the top Big Ten school, the Illini surpassed reigning Big Ten Champions, No. 18 Michigan State, who posted 580 (+4).
The Orange and Blue will close out the regular season in Columbus, Ohio for the annual Lady Buckeye Invitational, April 13-14. Last season, the Illini won tournament with 579 (+3), while Nowlin tied for fourth with identical rounds of even-par 72.
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