Chambana Sun

The Illinois Women's Golf team concluded the first day of the Illini Women's Invitational at Medinah in 11th place, with a combined score of 579 (+3) over two rounds. Lexanne Halama, competing individually, leads the tournament after scoring twelve birdies and maintaining a bogey-free back nine in both rounds. She is at 10-under par after achieving a career-low score of 67 (-5) in each round. Halama currently leads in birdies, shares first place in par 3 scoring average (2.88, -1), and is tied for third in par 4 scoring average (3.80, -4).

Yurang Li stands tied for 15th place following a career-low first-round score of 68 (-4) with six birdies and completing the second round with a score of 73 (+1). Victoria Zheng improved her position by climbing up 35 spots on the leaderboard through five birdies on the front nine during the second round. Zheng is now tied for 21st after an impressive second-round score of 67 (-5), marking another career low.

Brielle Mapanao holds a tie for 52nd place after an even-par first round of 72 followed by a second-round score of 75 (+3). Anna Ritter is tied for 64th with scores of 76 (+4) and 73 (+1), while Erica Lee sits at the bottom in position number eighty-two after posting rounds of seventy-seven (+5) and seventy-eight (+6).

Competing individually as well, Sophia Sulkar moved up seventeen places to be tied for sixty-fourth by shooting one-under-par (71) to end her day despite an opening round of seventy-eight (+6). Kylie Eaton tallied rounds eighty-five (+13) and seventy-seven (+5), placing her eighty-seventh.

Houston leads among teams at twenty-under (556), with Ole Miss closely behind by one stroke at nineteen-under (557).

The Fighting Illini will continue their efforts tomorrow morning at Medinah, where they will participate in the third and final round starting with a shotgun start scheduled for nine o'clock Central Time.