MADISON, Wis. – Illinois women's golf finished the second round of the Badger Invitational all alone atop the leaderboard following an 11-under (277) team showing. The Fighting Illini head into the final day with a solid first-place lead of 11 strokes over second place. Through two rounds, Illinois is 13-under as a team, carding a combined 563 (286, 277).
For the second time in as many rounds - and the season - the Illini finished below par as a team, this time by a wide margin. The 11-under team score is the fourth lowest round in program history. Illinois carded 27 birdies and an eagle on the day as Victoria Zheng notched the squad's second hole-in-one in as many tournaments.
Zheng and Alexis Myers led the way with career-best rounds of 67 (-5) on day two from Madison. For Zheng, the 18-hole showing matched her career best at the Illini Women's Invitational at Medinah last year. Zheng connected on a hole-in-one from 161 yards out on hole 12 and finished with an eagle and six birdies across the round. Myers continues her hot start with the Illini, having either improved or matched her previous score every round this year. The freshman tallied seven birdies on Monday. Both are tied for fourth heading into the final round.
Erica Lee continued to keep pace with a 72 (E). She joins Zheng and Myers in a tie for fourth. Â
Brielle Mapanao and Anna Ritter are tied for 21st following two days of play. Ritter bounced back with a round of 71 (-1), her first sub-par round of the season. Mapanao finished with a 75 (+3).Â
Tavia Burgess, competing as an individual, had a breakout round with a season-best 71 (-1). That mark ties her for 15th entering the final round.Â
The Fighting Illini will be back Tuesday with the third, and final, round of action, starting with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. CT.
