Hi Illini Nation!
We are freshmen Lexanne Halama and Alise Knudson and we would like to share the many amazing moments we had to wrap up our 2021-22 freshman experience.
Before we officially began our postseason, the team played in the Lady Buckeye Invitational at Ohio State Golf Club's Scarlett Course. I was unfortunately in isolation due to contracting COVID, so I will let Alise take it away to share the valuable experience gained during the tournament. Throughout the three days we were in Columbus, we faced wet and windy conditions. Since we had experienced similar conditions in previous events, we were able to draw from what we had learned. This golf course helped in our preparation going into postseason, especially the Big Ten Championship. We finished third as a team with three players, Crystal Wang, Kornkamol Sukaree, and Isabel Sy, finishing in the top 12.
Moving right into championship season, we traveled to Pittsburgh to play at Fox Chapel Golf Club, which hosted the Big Ten Championship. We did not have the finish we had planned, but there was a lot to be gained, and we were thankful for the opportunity to play as freshmen. Seniors Crystal Wang and Kornkamol Sukaree finished tied for sixth and 12th, respectively, and Crystal was named to the Big Ten All-Championship Team. Both Crystal and Kornkamol earned All-Big Ten First-Team honors as well. In addition, Alise had her career best tournament.
Through all this, there was a lot of valuable information gained that would only benefit us going into NCAA Regionals.
The Seminole Legacy Golf Club was a unique golf course that provided us an opportunity we had yet to experience. The course was fast, firm and featured many severe undulations. It allowed us to see the areas for growth in our games, providing us with a plan of action leading into the summer season. While Lexanne played in the tournament, I had the opportunity to watch the team compete for 54 holes. This was a new experience which provided me with a very different perspective that will help me as well as the returning team members be even better prepared for next postseason. Although our season was shorter than anticipated, we will take all the knowledge we gained and use it to better our games and propel us into a new season.
Apart from all the amazing golf experiences, we would like to acknowledge and congratulate seniors Kornkamol Sukaree and Crystal Wang on graduating! We will miss Stang much but wish her the best as she begins her next steps toward the pro circuit, and we are excited to have Crystal return for one more year with us.
As we go into the summer, many of us will take advantage of numerous tournament opportunities. We will also spend some quality time with family and friends before we come back rested and ready for a highly successful fall season.
Until next time, Go Illini!
Lexanne Halama and Alise Knudson
