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PITTSBURGH – The Illinois women's golf team opened the Big Ten Championships in first place, after carding a first round total of 286 (+2) heading into Saturday's second round at Fox Chapel Golf Club.
Isabel Sy paced the Illini on the day, posting a 2-under 69 and will begin Saturday with a share of the lead. Sy began the day with an even-par 36 on the front before firing a 2-under 33 on the back. The junior birdied a total of six holes, tied for the most in today's opening round, including back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18. The Troy, Calif., native was just one of six golfers to shoot under par on Saturday.
Siyan Chen is tied for fourth after a 1-under 70, matching her season-low round. Chen played steady golf all day, picking up three birdies and just two bogeys. The senior, along with Sy, posted the lowest scoring average on par 3s (2.50), while picking up the fourth-most pars.
Crystal Wang also ended the day in the Top 10, shooting an even-par 71 to end the day tied for seventh. Wang had a 1-under performance on the front, which featured three birdies, before going 1-over on the back.
Mattie Frick is tied for 33rd at 5-over (76), Lexanne Halama is tied for 57th at 7-over (78) and Anna Ritter is tied for 69th at 8-over (79)
As a team, Illinois posted the best scoring averages on par 3s (3.17, +4), par 5s (4.50, -9) and the team's 19 birdies were second-most in the first round.
The Fighting Illini hold a six-stroke lead over second-place Ohio State (+8) and an eight-stroke lead over third-placed Maryland (+10). Wisconsin's Emily Lauterbach and Purdue's Momo Sugiyama are tied with Sy individually at 1-under (69).
Saturday's second round begins with tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m. CT. Ritter will begin play for Illinois at 9:24 a.m. CT, with Halama, Frick, Wang, Chen and Sy to follow in nine-minute intervals.
