Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Top Big Ten Championships Leaderboard After Day One
4/21/2017 4:16:00 PM | Women's Golf
MAINEVILLE, Ohio – Led by a pair of Wildcats in the Top-4, No. 15 Northwestern leads the 2017 Big Ten Women's Golf Championships after Friday's opening round at TPC River's Bend (Par-72; 6,357 yards).
Big Ten Women's Golf Championships – LIVE LEADERBOARD (via GolfStat)
TPC River's Bend
Big Ten Women's Golf Championships Central
Big Ten Women's Golf Championships Fan Central
Big Ten Women's Golf Records Book
On a challenging Friday for scoring in southern Ohio, only five individuals in the 83-player field managed a round under par, and two of those were wearing purple. Junior Sarah Cho, who won this event as a rookie in 2015, carded five birdies on her way to a 2-under 70, and will tee off Saturday's second round in second-place, just one stroke off the lead.
Sophomore Stephanie Lau, the 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, birdied No. 18 to finish with a 1-under 71 and a share of fourth, just two strokes off the pace. Classmate Janet Mao also birdied the 18th, needing just a tap-in after a near-eagle, to finish at 1-over, in eighth. Junior Hannah Kim played her final eight holes at 1-under to card a 2-over 74 in round one and finish the day tied for 14th.
In the 6-count-4 format, the Wildcats posted an even-par 288, and lead second-place Wisconsin by three strokes after 18 holes. Head coach Emily Fletcher and her squad are in search of their third consecutive Big Ten title, and fourth in the last five seasons.
Northwestern will tee off Round 2 beginning at 10:18 a.m. ET, paired with second-place Wisconsin and third-place Michigan. Weather is expected to be a factor in Saturday's second round, with rain near certain, and temperatures predicted to be in the 40's.
Northwestern – 1/14 • 288-R2-R3 = 288 (E)
T2 – Sarah CHO – 70-R2-R3=70 (-2)
T4 – Stephanie LAU – 71-R2-R3=71 (-1)
T8 – Janet MAO – 73-R2-R3=73 (+1)
T14 – Hannah KIM – 74-R2-R3=74 (+2)
T44 – Kacie KOMOTO – 78-R2-R3=78 (+6)
T44 – Monica MATSUBARA – 78-R2-R3=78 (+6)
Six Big Ten teams are ranked among the Top-50 according to the latest Golfweek/Sagarin national rankings. Northwestern leads the way at No. 15, followed by No. 28 Ohio State, No. 32 Illinois, No. 34 Purdue, No. 37 Michigan and No. 48 Wisconsin.
This year's field features 18 of the top 20 finishers from the 2016 Big Ten Championships, including Northwestern's Lau (T4th), Kim (T9th), Mao (T12th) and Komoto (T17th).
That 18 also includes 2016 medalist August Kim of Purdue. Ohio State's Katja Pogacar, who finished second individually last season, also returns, along with Jessica Porvasnik (T7th) and Rio Watanabe (T12th). Wisconsin's Brooke Ferrell, a third-place finisher at the 2016 Big Ten Championships, returns along with Becky Klongland, who finished tied for 9th. Illinois' Bing Singhsumalee finished in a fourth-place tie last season, and returns to lead the Fighting Illini. Michigan State's Sarah Burnham returns after tying for 7th place last season, while Penn State's Lauren Waller will look to build upon a ninth-place tie in 2016. Rutgers' Emily Mills finished in a 12th place tie last season and returns to lead the Scarlet Knights. Michigan returns Grace Choi (T15th) and Megan Kim (T17th), while Purdue's Marta Martin is back after finishing in a 17th place tie at the 2016 Big Ten Championships.
The Big Ten Network will debut coverage of the Big Ten Women's Golf Championships on Saturday, April 29 at 11 a.m. CT.
Big Ten Women's Golf Championships – LIVE LEADERBOARD (via GolfStat)
TPC River's Bend
Big Ten Women's Golf Championships Central
Big Ten Women's Golf Championships Fan Central
Big Ten Women's Golf Records Book
On a challenging Friday for scoring in southern Ohio, only five individuals in the 83-player field managed a round under par, and two of those were wearing purple. Junior Sarah Cho, who won this event as a rookie in 2015, carded five birdies on her way to a 2-under 70, and will tee off Saturday's second round in second-place, just one stroke off the lead.
Sophomore Stephanie Lau, the 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, birdied No. 18 to finish with a 1-under 71 and a share of fourth, just two strokes off the pace. Classmate Janet Mao also birdied the 18th, needing just a tap-in after a near-eagle, to finish at 1-over, in eighth. Junior Hannah Kim played her final eight holes at 1-under to card a 2-over 74 in round one and finish the day tied for 14th.
In the 6-count-4 format, the Wildcats posted an even-par 288, and lead second-place Wisconsin by three strokes after 18 holes. Head coach Emily Fletcher and her squad are in search of their third consecutive Big Ten title, and fourth in the last five seasons.
Northwestern will tee off Round 2 beginning at 10:18 a.m. ET, paired with second-place Wisconsin and third-place Michigan. Weather is expected to be a factor in Saturday's second round, with rain near certain, and temperatures predicted to be in the 40's.
Northwestern – 1/14 • 288-R2-R3 = 288 (E)
T2 – Sarah CHO – 70-R2-R3=70 (-2)
T4 – Stephanie LAU – 71-R2-R3=71 (-1)
T8 – Janet MAO – 73-R2-R3=73 (+1)
T14 – Hannah KIM – 74-R2-R3=74 (+2)
T44 – Kacie KOMOTO – 78-R2-R3=78 (+6)
T44 – Monica MATSUBARA – 78-R2-R3=78 (+6)
Six Big Ten teams are ranked among the Top-50 according to the latest Golfweek/Sagarin national rankings. Northwestern leads the way at No. 15, followed by No. 28 Ohio State, No. 32 Illinois, No. 34 Purdue, No. 37 Michigan and No. 48 Wisconsin.
This year's field features 18 of the top 20 finishers from the 2016 Big Ten Championships, including Northwestern's Lau (T4th), Kim (T9th), Mao (T12th) and Komoto (T17th).
That 18 also includes 2016 medalist August Kim of Purdue. Ohio State's Katja Pogacar, who finished second individually last season, also returns, along with Jessica Porvasnik (T7th) and Rio Watanabe (T12th). Wisconsin's Brooke Ferrell, a third-place finisher at the 2016 Big Ten Championships, returns along with Becky Klongland, who finished tied for 9th. Illinois' Bing Singhsumalee finished in a fourth-place tie last season, and returns to lead the Fighting Illini. Michigan State's Sarah Burnham returns after tying for 7th place last season, while Penn State's Lauren Waller will look to build upon a ninth-place tie in 2016. Rutgers' Emily Mills finished in a 12th place tie last season and returns to lead the Scarlet Knights. Michigan returns Grace Choi (T15th) and Megan Kim (T17th), while Purdue's Marta Martin is back after finishing in a 17th place tie at the 2016 Big Ten Championships.
The Big Ten Network will debut coverage of the Big Ten Women's Golf Championships on Saturday, April 29 at 11 a.m. CT.
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