FRANKLIN, Tenn. (September 22, 2024) – Four Wildcats earned top-25 finishes as Northwestern women's golf put together one of its top 54-hole showings in program history en route to a third-place finish at the season-opening Mason Rudolph Championship in Franklin, Tenn.
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Northwestern came in 24-under-par for the weekend at the Vanderbilt Legends Club (par 72; 6,491 yards), compiling a team score of 840 (278-283-279) to finish just a stroke back of South Carolina (276-285-278=839), which earned runner-up honors in a field that featured nine teams ranked in the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Preseason Top 25 Poll. The Wildcats' weekend total marks the third-lowest 54-hole team effort in program history.
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Texas (278-277-278=833) laid claim to the team championship, while Mississippi State's Avery Weed turned in a 13-under 203 (65-70-68) to win the individual crown.
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Lauryn Nguyen led the attack for Northwestern, putting together a nine-under-par 207 (70-68-69) as she claimed a share of ninth place. A Preseason All-America selection by both the Golf Channel and Golfweek, Nguyen shot under-par in all three rounds, highlighted by a four-under 68 in Saturday's second round. The Seattle, Wash. native now has 13 career top-10 finishes to her name as a Wildcat.
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Coming off a debut season in which she was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Ashley Yun looked to pick up right where she left off in 2023-24, carding a seven-under 209 (69-71-69) that saw her tie for 12th. Yun, who shot three-under-par rounds of 69 on both Friday and Sunday, led the 'Cats on the weekend with 13 birdies.
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The pairing of Dianna Lee and Elise Lee closed play as part of a four-way tie for 22nd with four-under 212s. Â Dianna Lee (69-73-70) opened the weekend with a three-under 69 during first-round play, while Elise Lee (70-71-71) more than impressed in her collegiate debut, coming in under-par across all three rounds of play. Â Jiayi Wang tallied a 54-hole effort of 229 (76-78-75) to place 82nd.
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Like Lee, Hsin Tai Lin also made her first appearance as a Wildcat this weekend. Competing as an individual, Tai Lin handed in a second-round one-over 73 on the way to tying for 75th with a 226 (78-73-75).
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WILDCAT LINEUP (3rd; 278-283-279=840)
T-9th – Lauryn Nguyen (70-68-69=207)
T-12th – Ashley Yun (69-71-69=209)
T-22nd – Elise Lee (70-71-71=212)
T-22nd – Dianna Lee (69-73-70=212)
T-75th – Hsin Tai Lin (78-73-75=226) *
82nd – Jiayi Wang (76-78-75=229)
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* Competed as an individual
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UP NEXT
Northwestern competes close to home in just over a week, September 30 – October 1, when it plays host to the Windy City Collegiate Classic at Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette, Ill.
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Northwestern came in 24-under-par for the weekend at the Vanderbilt Legends Club (par 72; 6,491 yards), compiling a team score of 840 (278-283-279) to finish just a stroke back of South Carolina (276-285-278=839), which earned runner-up honors in a field that featured nine teams ranked in the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Preseason Top 25 Poll. The Wildcats' weekend total marks the third-lowest 54-hole team effort in program history.
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Texas (278-277-278=833) laid claim to the team championship, while Mississippi State's Avery Weed turned in a 13-under 203 (65-70-68) to win the individual crown.
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Gallery: (9-21-2024) Women's Golf at Mason Rudolph Champ.
Lauryn Nguyen led the attack for Northwestern, putting together a nine-under-par 207 (70-68-69) as she claimed a share of ninth place. A Preseason All-America selection by both the Golf Channel and Golfweek, Nguyen shot under-par in all three rounds, highlighted by a four-under 68 in Saturday's second round. The Seattle, Wash. native now has 13 career top-10 finishes to her name as a Wildcat.
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Coming off a debut season in which she was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Ashley Yun looked to pick up right where she left off in 2023-24, carding a seven-under 209 (69-71-69) that saw her tie for 12th. Yun, who shot three-under-par rounds of 69 on both Friday and Sunday, led the 'Cats on the weekend with 13 birdies.
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The pairing of Dianna Lee and Elise Lee closed play as part of a four-way tie for 22nd with four-under 212s. Â Dianna Lee (69-73-70) opened the weekend with a three-under 69 during first-round play, while Elise Lee (70-71-71) more than impressed in her collegiate debut, coming in under-par across all three rounds of play. Â Jiayi Wang tallied a 54-hole effort of 229 (76-78-75) to place 82nd.
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Like Lee, Hsin Tai Lin also made her first appearance as a Wildcat this weekend. Competing as an individual, Tai Lin handed in a second-round one-over 73 on the way to tying for 75th with a 226 (78-73-75).
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WILDCAT LINEUP (3rd; 278-283-279=840)
T-9th – Lauryn Nguyen (70-68-69=207)
T-12th – Ashley Yun (69-71-69=209)
T-22nd – Elise Lee (70-71-71=212)
T-22nd – Dianna Lee (69-73-70=212)
T-75th – Hsin Tai Lin (78-73-75=226) *
82nd – Jiayi Wang (76-78-75=229)
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* Competed as an individual
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UP NEXT
Northwestern competes close to home in just over a week, September 30 – October 1, when it plays host to the Windy City Collegiate Classic at Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette, Ill.