MAINEVILLE, Ohio – Stephanie Lau carded a 1-under 71 in Friday's opening round of the 2018 Big Ten Women's Golf Championship at TPC River's Bend (Par-72; 6,357 yards). The junior wrapped up the first day of competition in a tie for fifth, as did No. 10 Northwestern.
2018 Big Ten Championship – TEAM Leaderboard
2018 Big Ten Championship – INDIVIDUAL Leaderboard
Lau opened her round with a bogey on No. 1, but birdied the 315-yard No. 4 and the 524-yard No. 8 to make the turn at 1-under. The Fullerton, California, native posted Northwestern's top highlight of the first round, with an eagle-3 on the 457-yard No. 11, followed by a birdie on the 145-yard No. 12. She and her teammates collectively played Nos. 11&12 at 7-under during the round. Lau finished tied for fifth to lead the 'Cats last year at this event, after a T4 result in her Big Ten Championships debut in 2016.
A quartet of Wildcats finished the day tied for 21st at 2-over. Northwestern was one of only two teams to place all six golfers inside the Top-41, in the six-count-four format.
Conditions in Southern Ohio were clear, sunny and cool on Friday, with early spring temperatures hovering in the low-50's all afternoon. The opening round was delayed 90-minutes due to frost concerns, and Saturday's second round will be delayed 60-minutes for the same reason. Round 2 temperatures are anticipated to top out at 60 with more overcast skies but no threat of rain, and 5-7mph winds.
The Wildcats will play the second round alongside Illinois and Purdue. Hannah Kim will get things started for Northwestern at 10:24 a.m. ET, followed in nine-minute increments by Monica Matsubara, Brooke Riley, Janet Mao, Sarah Cho and Lau.
Northwestern – T5/14 • 293-R2-R3 = 293 (EEE)
T5 – Stephanie Lau – 71-R2-R3 = 71 (-1)
T21 – Sarah Cho -- 74-R2-R3 = 74 (+2)
T21 – Janet Mao -- 74-R2-R3 = 74 (+2)
T21 – Monica Matsubara -- 74-R2-R3 = 74 (+2)
T21 – Brooke Riley -- 74-R2-R3 = 74 (+2)
T41 – Hannah Kim -- 76-R2-R3 = 76 (+4)
BTN will debut coverage of the Big Ten Women's Golf Championships on Monday, April 30, at 5 p.m. ET.
TPC River's Bend is hosting the Big Ten Women's Golf (#B1GWGolf) Championships for the second consecutive spring. It was named by Golf Digest among the "Top 10 Best New Private Clubs in the U.S." after it opened in 2001. The Arnold Palmer-designed course also has been recognized as one of Ohio's Best Courses in State by Golf Digest in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015 and 2016.
The course has previously hosted the Web.com Tour's Chiquita Classic, the PGA TOUR Champions Kroger Classic, and the Junior PGA Championship.Complementing the golf course is an expansive, 12-acre practice facility featuring multiple chipping and putting areas.
2018 Big Ten Championship – TEAM Leaderboard
2018 Big Ten Championship – INDIVIDUAL Leaderboard
Lau opened her round with a bogey on No. 1, but birdied the 315-yard No. 4 and the 524-yard No. 8 to make the turn at 1-under. The Fullerton, California, native posted Northwestern's top highlight of the first round, with an eagle-3 on the 457-yard No. 11, followed by a birdie on the 145-yard No. 12. She and her teammates collectively played Nos. 11&12 at 7-under during the round. Lau finished tied for fifth to lead the 'Cats last year at this event, after a T4 result in her Big Ten Championships debut in 2016.
A quartet of Wildcats finished the day tied for 21st at 2-over. Northwestern was one of only two teams to place all six golfers inside the Top-41, in the six-count-four format.
Conditions in Southern Ohio were clear, sunny and cool on Friday, with early spring temperatures hovering in the low-50's all afternoon. The opening round was delayed 90-minutes due to frost concerns, and Saturday's second round will be delayed 60-minutes for the same reason. Round 2 temperatures are anticipated to top out at 60 with more overcast skies but no threat of rain, and 5-7mph winds.
The Wildcats will play the second round alongside Illinois and Purdue. Hannah Kim will get things started for Northwestern at 10:24 a.m. ET, followed in nine-minute increments by Monica Matsubara, Brooke Riley, Janet Mao, Sarah Cho and Lau.
Northwestern – T5/14 • 293-R2-R3 = 293 (EEE)
T5 – Stephanie Lau – 71-R2-R3 = 71 (-1)
T21 – Sarah Cho -- 74-R2-R3 = 74 (+2)
T21 – Janet Mao -- 74-R2-R3 = 74 (+2)
T21 – Monica Matsubara -- 74-R2-R3 = 74 (+2)
T21 – Brooke Riley -- 74-R2-R3 = 74 (+2)
T41 – Hannah Kim -- 76-R2-R3 = 76 (+4)
BTN will debut coverage of the Big Ten Women's Golf Championships on Monday, April 30, at 5 p.m. ET.
TPC River's Bend is hosting the Big Ten Women's Golf (#B1GWGolf) Championships for the second consecutive spring. It was named by Golf Digest among the "Top 10 Best New Private Clubs in the U.S." after it opened in 2001. The Arnold Palmer-designed course also has been recognized as one of Ohio's Best Courses in State by Golf Digest in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015 and 2016.
The course has previously hosted the Web.com Tour's Chiquita Classic, the PGA TOUR Champions Kroger Classic, and the Junior PGA Championship.Complementing the golf course is an expansive, 12-acre practice facility featuring multiple chipping and putting areas.