SUNSET, S.C. – Using a late round surge, the Illinois women's golf team sits in a tie for first place after turning in a four-over 292 in the opening round of the Clemson Invitational at the par 72, 6,386-yard Reserve at Lake Keowee golf course on Friday (March 25).

Joining the Illini at the top is Clemson, who also posted a four-over 292, with Florida in third at six-over (294), Furman in fourth at seven-over (295) and LSU and Kentucky tied for fifth at nine-over (297).

For the second-straight week, sophomore Isabel Sy paced the Illini with an opening round two-under par 70 to sit in a tie for third place, just one stroke of leaders Chloe Schiavone of Notre Dame and Marina Escobar Domingo of Florida with a three-under 69 on day one.

Junior Siyan Chen joined Sy in the top 10 and is tied for seventh after carding a one-under 71, while senior Kornkamol Sukaree is tied for 29th with a three-over par 75 in her opening round. Classmate Crystal Wang is tied for 42nd after registering a four-over 76 on Friday, with freshman Lexanne Halama in a tie for 53rd after posting a five-over 77 in the first round.

Playing as an individual, freshman Alise Knudson turned in an eight-over 80 in her opening round.

The Illini continue play at the Clemson Invitational with the second round on Saturday (March 26) with tee times between 8-10:15 a.m. CT off of holes one and 10. Fans can follow along with live scoring via Golfstat.com.

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