Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, April 22
Indianapolis, Ind. (The Fort Golf Resort)
All Day
Northwestern
vs
2016 Big Ten Championships
#B1GCats Win Second Straight Big Ten Women's Golf Championship
4/24/2016 3:57:00 PM | Women's Golf
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Freshman Stephanie Lau sank a clinching 10-foot putt on the 18th green to give Northwestern its second straight Big Ten Championship, and third in four years, on Sunday at The Fort Golf Resort. The 'Cats closed the tournament with a 6-under 282 in the final round, finishing the event with a Big Ten-record 12-under 852, an 11-shot improvement over their Championship winning performance at this same course a year ago.
2016 Big Ten Women's Golf Championship –LEADERBOARD
The top-seeded Wildcats teed off Sunday with a two-shot advantage, but a scorching final round by Ohio State (-8) gave the Buckeyes a one-shot lead as the final group walked the final fairway. Lau's approach landed just left of the green but a savvy chip left her with a 10-foot par putt, one that would secure a share of the championship after Ohio State missed their own par attempt.
The rookie was unfazed by the magnitude of the moment in part because she wasn't fully aware of the stakes.
"I knew the leaderboard was really close, but the first thing on my mind was just to get an up-and-down," said Lau. "I knew I had a lot of good putts during the final round, but none of them fell. I told myself, 'I'm going to stay even, and I'm going to make this putt.'"
Her head coach had no doubt about the situation.
"I was a little unclear [about the leaderboard] coming up the 18th fairway, but I texted with [assistant] Beth [Miller] a bit and we knew that we needed a make-miss scenario for us to get a piece of the title," said Emily Fletcher, the reigning Big Ten Coach of the Year.
As the putt fell, the crowd around the green erupted, led by Lau's teammates who immediately mobbed her.
"I dream about these moments," said the freshman. "When I walked up [the 18th fairway], I looked around at the crowd, and thought, 'Wow'. I try to enjoy it and take it in, because I know these are the moments that I play for, that I practice for. I was nervous seeing them all, but it was awesome."
Lau finished her first Big Ten Championships at 5-under, good for a share of fourth-place, one of three Wildcats to finish in the Top-12. Reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Hannah Kim fired a 2-under 70 on Sunday to finish the event at 3-under in ninth place, her second consecutive Top-10 Big Ten finish.
Freshman Janet Mao carded Northwestern's best Sunday score, a 3-under 69 that vaulted her ten spots up the leaderboard and into twelfth place. Junior Kacie Komoto shot a 1-under 71 in Round 3 to finish even for the tournament, in 17th place.
"It's fun to see your team go out and compete and not be tentative," said Fletcher. "They weren't tentative at all today. For the freshmen, I think they fed off the upperclassmen. Obviously that group had good memories coming back to this place [where the 'Cats won the 2015 Championship]. I can't say enough about [senior Suchaya Tangkamolprasert] and her energy, and what she brings to our team, that sense of resolve."
Following the tournament, Hannah Kim was honored with the Big Ten's Mary Fossum Award, named for the former Michigan State head coach and given annually to the student-athlete with the lowest stroke average for the season. The sophomore is the first Wildcats golfer to receive the award since its inception in 2007.
The 2016 Big Ten Championship is Northwestern's second straight Conference title, and third in the last four years.
"That's pretty surreal," said Fletcher as she surveyed the scene around the 18th green after the awards ceremony. "It's a testament to this group of young women and those that came before them in the eight years that Beth and I have been involved with the program with Coach Goss, and with Sam McKenney, our volunteer assistant. There are a lot of fingerprints on this trophy, just like there were with the last two."
But there are bigger goals ahead for Fletcher and the Wildcats.
"Now we get to have a nice ride home, we'll do a little celebrating," said the head coach. "And tomorrow we have the selection show for NCAA Regionals, so we'll find out where we're going a week from Tuesday. We'll enjoy this tonight, it's really sweet to come home with the Big Ten title."
BTN will provide tape-delayed coverage of the 2016 Big Ten Women's Golf Championships on Sunday, May 1, at 10 a.m. CT, the first of 11 spring championships to be broadcast on the network during the month of May. The hour-long recap will be followed immediately by the 2016 Men's Golf Championships at 11 a.m. CT.
Northwestern – 1/14 • 284-286-282=852 (-12)
T4 – Stephanie Lau -- 69-70-72=211 (-5)
T9 – Hannah Kim -- 71-72-70=213 (-3)
T12 – Janet Mao -- 71-74-69=214 (-2)
T17 – Kacie Komoto -- 73-72-71=216 (E)
T30 – Sarah Cho -- 74-72-74=220 (+4)
T54 – Suchaya Tangkamolprasert -- 75-73-78=226 (+10)
2016 Big Ten Women's Golf Championship –LEADERBOARD
The top-seeded Wildcats teed off Sunday with a two-shot advantage, but a scorching final round by Ohio State (-8) gave the Buckeyes a one-shot lead as the final group walked the final fairway. Lau's approach landed just left of the green but a savvy chip left her with a 10-foot par putt, one that would secure a share of the championship after Ohio State missed their own par attempt.
The rookie was unfazed by the magnitude of the moment in part because she wasn't fully aware of the stakes.
"I knew the leaderboard was really close, but the first thing on my mind was just to get an up-and-down," said Lau. "I knew I had a lot of good putts during the final round, but none of them fell. I told myself, 'I'm going to stay even, and I'm going to make this putt.'"
Her head coach had no doubt about the situation.
"I was a little unclear [about the leaderboard] coming up the 18th fairway, but I texted with [assistant] Beth [Miller] a bit and we knew that we needed a make-miss scenario for us to get a piece of the title," said Emily Fletcher, the reigning Big Ten Coach of the Year.
As the putt fell, the crowd around the green erupted, led by Lau's teammates who immediately mobbed her.
"I dream about these moments," said the freshman. "When I walked up [the 18th fairway], I looked around at the crowd, and thought, 'Wow'. I try to enjoy it and take it in, because I know these are the moments that I play for, that I practice for. I was nervous seeing them all, but it was awesome."
Lau finished her first Big Ten Championships at 5-under, good for a share of fourth-place, one of three Wildcats to finish in the Top-12. Reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Hannah Kim fired a 2-under 70 on Sunday to finish the event at 3-under in ninth place, her second consecutive Top-10 Big Ten finish.
Freshman Janet Mao carded Northwestern's best Sunday score, a 3-under 69 that vaulted her ten spots up the leaderboard and into twelfth place. Junior Kacie Komoto shot a 1-under 71 in Round 3 to finish even for the tournament, in 17th place.
"It's fun to see your team go out and compete and not be tentative," said Fletcher. "They weren't tentative at all today. For the freshmen, I think they fed off the upperclassmen. Obviously that group had good memories coming back to this place [where the 'Cats won the 2015 Championship]. I can't say enough about [senior Suchaya Tangkamolprasert] and her energy, and what she brings to our team, that sense of resolve."
Following the tournament, Hannah Kim was honored with the Big Ten's Mary Fossum Award, named for the former Michigan State head coach and given annually to the student-athlete with the lowest stroke average for the season. The sophomore is the first Wildcats golfer to receive the award since its inception in 2007.
The 2016 Big Ten Championship is Northwestern's second straight Conference title, and third in the last four years.
"That's pretty surreal," said Fletcher as she surveyed the scene around the 18th green after the awards ceremony. "It's a testament to this group of young women and those that came before them in the eight years that Beth and I have been involved with the program with Coach Goss, and with Sam McKenney, our volunteer assistant. There are a lot of fingerprints on this trophy, just like there were with the last two."
But there are bigger goals ahead for Fletcher and the Wildcats.
"Now we get to have a nice ride home, we'll do a little celebrating," said the head coach. "And tomorrow we have the selection show for NCAA Regionals, so we'll find out where we're going a week from Tuesday. We'll enjoy this tonight, it's really sweet to come home with the Big Ten title."
BTN will provide tape-delayed coverage of the 2016 Big Ten Women's Golf Championships on Sunday, May 1, at 10 a.m. CT, the first of 11 spring championships to be broadcast on the network during the month of May. The hour-long recap will be followed immediately by the 2016 Men's Golf Championships at 11 a.m. CT.
Northwestern – 1/14 • 284-286-282=852 (-12)
T4 – Stephanie Lau -- 69-70-72=211 (-5)
T9 – Hannah Kim -- 71-72-70=213 (-3)
T12 – Janet Mao -- 71-74-69=214 (-2)
T17 – Kacie Komoto -- 73-72-71=216 (E)
T30 – Sarah Cho -- 74-72-74=220 (+4)
T54 – Suchaya Tangkamolprasert -- 75-73-78=226 (+10)
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Women's Golf - Emily Fletcher Joins B1G Today (5/27/25)
Wednesday, May 28
Women's Golf - NCAA National Championship Match Cinematic Recap (5/21/25)
Thursday, May 22
Women's Golf - 'Cats Claim First National Championship in Program History (5/21/25)
Thursday, May 22
Women's Golf - 'Cats Defeat Ducks to Punch Ticket to National Championship (5/21/25)
Wednesday, May 21
