Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, March 28
Phoenix, Ariz.
All Day
Northwestern
at
PING/ASU Invitational
Photo by: Arianna Grainey/Northwestern Athletics
Dianna Lee Earns First Career Victory, ‘Cats Finish Second at PING/ASU Invitational
3/30/2025 4:30:00 PM | Women's Golf
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Junior Dianna Lee (-10, 70-68-68=206) earned her first career victory and the Wildcats finished second in the team race as Northwestern returned to the course this weekend at the PING/ASU Invitational.
Lee, the 2023 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, improved every day of the competition, saving her best for Saturday and Sunday, shooting four-under both days and clinching the individual title by one stroke over ASU's Patience Rhodes. NU has won three of the last five individual trophies in Phoenix. Wildcat Kelly Sim won PING/ASU titles in 2021 and 2023.
This result bested Lee's previous career high, a share of second place at the 2023 Silverado Showdown (76-69-69=214). That same year, she finished fourth at the PING/ASU with a 212 (71-68-73).
Northwestern returned to the par-72 6,586-yard Papago Golf Course hoping for a three-peat, seeking their third consecutive victory at the event, after winning team titles in both 2023 and 2024. The team earned a hard-fought runner-up result (-23; 279-284-278=841), behind only a squad that knows the course extremely well, the host Arizona State Sun Devils (-36; 273-275-280=828). The 'Cats, currently ranked 12th in the nation, played their best golf on Sunday, shooting a team tally of 278 to finish with a 54-hole total of 841 (279-284-278).
Two other 'Cats finished in the Top 10: Elise Lee ended in seventh (-5; 69-70-72=211) and Ashley Yun tied for eighth (-4; 69-73-70=212). Last year, Yun was recognized as the Ann Votik Award winner, which recognizes the top freshman on the individual leaderboard.
All five Wildcats competing in the team portion finished under par. Lauryn Nguyen and Hsin Tai Lin both shot a 1-under 215. Megan Meng, playing as an individual, carded 69 on Sunday, one shot behind Dianna on the day. Meng finished just outside the Top 25.
To view the entire player leaderboard, click here. To view the entire team leaderboard, click here.
Wildcats on the Leaderboard -23 (2nd; 279-284-278=841)
1st – Dianna Lee -10 (70-68-68=206)
7th – Elise Lee -6 (69-70-72=211)
T-8th – Ashley Yun -4 (69-73-70=212)
T-13th – Lauryn Nguyen -1 (71-74-70=215)
T-13th – Hsin Tai Lin -1 (72-73-70=215)
T-27th – Megan Meng (IND) +2 (74-75-69=218)
Three 'Cats to Compete at Augusta National Women's Amateur
Nguyen, Elise Lee and future Wildcat Arianna Lau will compete at the sixth edition of the Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA) April 2-5 in Georgia. The first and second rounds of the ANWA will be held at Champions Retreat Golf Club. A cut will take place after 36 holes, advancing the leading 30 players and ties to the final round at Augusta National Golf Club. The ANWA, one of the premier amateur events, will be nationally televised on Golf Channel.
This marks Nguyen's second consecutive ANWA appearance and the first for Lee and Lau, who is set to begin at NU prior to the start of the 2025-26 academic year.
Up Next
Northwestern heads to California in pursuit of another three-peat, returning to the Silverado Showdown in Napa, where the 'Cats have won the last two titles as a team. The event runs April 7-9 and will be the team's final tournament before the Big Ten Championships.
Lee, the 2023 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, improved every day of the competition, saving her best for Saturday and Sunday, shooting four-under both days and clinching the individual title by one stroke over ASU's Patience Rhodes. NU has won three of the last five individual trophies in Phoenix. Wildcat Kelly Sim won PING/ASU titles in 2021 and 2023.
This result bested Lee's previous career high, a share of second place at the 2023 Silverado Showdown (76-69-69=214). That same year, she finished fourth at the PING/ASU with a 212 (71-68-73).
Northwestern returned to the par-72 6,586-yard Papago Golf Course hoping for a three-peat, seeking their third consecutive victory at the event, after winning team titles in both 2023 and 2024. The team earned a hard-fought runner-up result (-23; 279-284-278=841), behind only a squad that knows the course extremely well, the host Arizona State Sun Devils (-36; 273-275-280=828). The 'Cats, currently ranked 12th in the nation, played their best golf on Sunday, shooting a team tally of 278 to finish with a 54-hole total of 841 (279-284-278).
Two other 'Cats finished in the Top 10: Elise Lee ended in seventh (-5; 69-70-72=211) and Ashley Yun tied for eighth (-4; 69-73-70=212). Last year, Yun was recognized as the Ann Votik Award winner, which recognizes the top freshman on the individual leaderboard.
All five Wildcats competing in the team portion finished under par. Lauryn Nguyen and Hsin Tai Lin both shot a 1-under 215. Megan Meng, playing as an individual, carded 69 on Sunday, one shot behind Dianna on the day. Meng finished just outside the Top 25.
To view the entire player leaderboard, click here. To view the entire team leaderboard, click here.
Wildcats on the Leaderboard -23 (2nd; 279-284-278=841)
1st – Dianna Lee -10 (70-68-68=206)
7th – Elise Lee -6 (69-70-72=211)
T-8th – Ashley Yun -4 (69-73-70=212)
T-13th – Lauryn Nguyen -1 (71-74-70=215)
T-13th – Hsin Tai Lin -1 (72-73-70=215)
T-27th – Megan Meng (IND) +2 (74-75-69=218)
Three 'Cats to Compete at Augusta National Women's Amateur
Nguyen, Elise Lee and future Wildcat Arianna Lau will compete at the sixth edition of the Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA) April 2-5 in Georgia. The first and second rounds of the ANWA will be held at Champions Retreat Golf Club. A cut will take place after 36 holes, advancing the leading 30 players and ties to the final round at Augusta National Golf Club. The ANWA, one of the premier amateur events, will be nationally televised on Golf Channel.
This marks Nguyen's second consecutive ANWA appearance and the first for Lee and Lau, who is set to begin at NU prior to the start of the 2025-26 academic year.
Up Next
Northwestern heads to California in pursuit of another three-peat, returning to the Silverado Showdown in Napa, where the 'Cats have won the last two titles as a team. The event runs April 7-9 and will be the team's final tournament before the Big Ten Championships.
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