April 17, 2011
Illini Spring Classic Final Results (PDF Format) 
URBANA, Ill. -- Northwestern made a huge charge Sunday during the weather-shortened Illini Spring Classic, jumping four places into a tie for third place during a final-round sprint at Stone Creek Golf Club that saw junior Eric Chun (Ansung City, South Korea/International Christian School) earn a second-place individual finish.
Student-athletes battled through difficult and punishing weather Saturday, eventually leading tournament officials to suspend play in the second round and shorten the tournament to 36 holes. Sunday's play consisted only of the 13-16 holes players had yet to complete in the second round.
Northwestern took advantage of much better conditions in the second round, improving 16 strokes from the first to the second rounds to card a 4-over 292 Sunday. NU ended up tied for third with Illinois State at 24-over 600 (308-292), one stroke in front of fifth-place No. 23 Indiana and seven shots in back of second place No. 13 Illinois.
Chun had a huge day, launching himself into a share of the lead after nine holes. Chun came into Sunday with a birdie he made at No. 7 (his second hole after a shotgun start) prior to suspension of play Saturday, and he quickly made birdies at Nos. 11, 13 and 14 to get to 4-under for the round and 2-under for the tourney.
Chun then played his final nine in two over par to end up at 2-under 70 for the round and even-par 144 (74-70) for the tournament. The tournament was a big bounce back for Chun ahead of the Big Ten Championships after the 2009 conference champ scuffled through much of the spring schedule.
Senior David Lipsky (La Canada, Calif./La Canada) opened with a birdie on his second hole, but that was followed by back-to-back bogeys. He again carded a birdie at No. 11, but went bogey-double bogey on Nos. 13-14 to give back three strokes. He finished his round much more consistently, making par on his final seven holes to finish at 3-over 75 for the round and 6-over 150 (75-75) for the tournament, good for 24th place.
Easily the biggest bounce back of the tournament belonged to sophomore Nick Losole (Scottsdale, Ariz./Scottsdale Notre Dame), who recovered from an 11-over 83 Saturday to card an even-par 72 in the second round. Losole came into Sunday morning already at 2-over par from a pair of early round bogeys Saturday. After a good night's sleep, Losole came out to make three birdies against just one bogey the rest of the way to finish his tourney in 43rd place at 11-over 155 (83-72).
Freshman Jack Perry (Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara) was even par through the first five holes of his second round before a stretch of five bogeys in six holes sent him to 5-over par entering No. 18. He came home in stellar fashion, making birdie on No. 4 and his final hole, No. 6, to get back to 3-over 75 on the day and 11-over 155 (80-75). Perry finished the tournament in 43rd position individually.
Freshman Brad Shigezawa (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou Academy) had momentum to his round Sunday after grinding out some tough pars prior to Saturday's suspension. He had a rough go with a double bogey on No. 16 and a bogey on No. 17, but hit the flagstick from 82 yards on No. 18 to make birdie. He would end up carding a 5-over 77 to finish 47th individually at 12-over 156 (79-77).
Northwestern now has a week off before the Big Ten Championships April 29-May 1, 2011.
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