Chambana Sun

Fighting Illini women's golf team concluded the first round of the NCAA Columbus Regional tied for sixth place at 1-over par (289) at The Ohio State University Golf Course. The team is just two strokes away from entering the top five on the leaderboard as they head into the second round.

Yurang Li led Illinois with a score of 3-under 69, finishing tied for fourth and three strokes behind the individual leader. After a bogey on her first hole, Li played bogey-free on the front nine, securing three consecutive birdies on holes 7-9. She added three more birdies on the back nine, totaling six for her round, which was the second-most among all players.

Lexanne Halama and Anna Ritter both shot a 1-over 73, tying them for 28th place. Halama achieved four straight birdies on holes 14-17 after scoring a 37 on the front nine and a 36 on the back. Ritter scored a front nine of 35 followed by a back nine of 38, accumulating four birdies throughout her round.

Brielle Mapanao finished tied for 35th with a score of 74, maintaining par or better over her last fifteen holes. Victoria Zheng completed her opening round with a score of 77 (+5), placing her in a tie for 55th.

Ohio State leads in team standings at 9-under (279), while Buckeyes' Nellie Ong is ahead individually with a score of 6-under (66).

The Fighting Illini will resume play tomorrow morning, starting their second round at hole No.1 at approximately 7:55 a.m. CT.