RIO GRANDE, PR US — The spring season couldn't have gotten off to a better start for the Northwestern women's golf program.
First-year Irene Kim capped the third-best 54-hole tournament score in program history with a final round 5-under, 67, to capture medalist honors and lead the Wildcats to a come-from-behind team title. The Wildcats posted their low round of the year at 9-under Tuesday to finish the tournament even par and claim their first title since the 2019 Silverado Showdown.
Kim was the star of the tournament and showed a flare for the dramatic by reeling off four birdies and an eagle in a six-hole on the back nine to claim a lead she never relinquished. Her final round 67 tied the 14-best round in program history and her 54-hole score of 207 ranks third all time among Wildcats. The individual victory was the first of Kim's collegiate career and the first by a Wildcat since Stephanie Lau at the 2019 Silverado Showdown.
LADY PUERTO RICO CLASSIC TEAM LEADERBOARD
LADY PUERTO RICO CLASSIC INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
All four of the Wildcats' scorers — Kim and sophomores Kelly Sim, Jane Lu and Kelly Su — shot 1-over or better in the final round to help the 'Cats turn a five-shot deficit into a six-shot victory. The 'Cats final round 280 matched the seventh-best team round in program history.
After shooting 3-under in the second round, Sim repeated her performance Tuesday with her second-straight 3-under, 69, to finish the tournament tied for third at 6-under. The third-place finish is the best of her collegiate career. The sophomore made four birdies, 13 pars and just one bogey in the final round.
Lu and Su each posted the best rounds of their sophomore campaigns as Lu carded a 1-under, 71, and Su finished with a 1-over, 73, respectively. Lu came out strong with a trio of birdies in her 10 holes and despite back-to-back bogeys on No. 17 and No. 18, closed six-straight pars for her first round under par of the year.
Su finished the tournament tied for 31st at 7-over.
Chicago's Big Ten Team will be back in action when it travels to the Bruin/Wave Invitational in San Luis Obisipo, California, Feb. 24-25.
First-year Irene Kim capped the third-best 54-hole tournament score in program history with a final round 5-under, 67, to capture medalist honors and lead the Wildcats to a come-from-behind team title. The Wildcats posted their low round of the year at 9-under Tuesday to finish the tournament even par and claim their first title since the 2019 Silverado Showdown.
Kim was the star of the tournament and showed a flare for the dramatic by reeling off four birdies and an eagle in a six-hole on the back nine to claim a lead she never relinquished. Her final round 67 tied the 14-best round in program history and her 54-hole score of 207 ranks third all time among Wildcats. The individual victory was the first of Kim's collegiate career and the first by a Wildcat since Stephanie Lau at the 2019 Silverado Showdown.
LADY PUERTO RICO CLASSIC TEAM LEADERBOARD
LADY PUERTO RICO CLASSIC INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
All four of the Wildcats' scorers — Kim and sophomores Kelly Sim, Jane Lu and Kelly Su — shot 1-over or better in the final round to help the 'Cats turn a five-shot deficit into a six-shot victory. The 'Cats final round 280 matched the seventh-best team round in program history.
After shooting 3-under in the second round, Sim repeated her performance Tuesday with her second-straight 3-under, 69, to finish the tournament tied for third at 6-under. The third-place finish is the best of her collegiate career. The sophomore made four birdies, 13 pars and just one bogey in the final round.
Lu and Su each posted the best rounds of their sophomore campaigns as Lu carded a 1-under, 71, and Su finished with a 1-over, 73, respectively. Lu came out strong with a trio of birdies in her 10 holes and despite back-to-back bogeys on No. 17 and No. 18, closed six-straight pars for her first round under par of the year.
Su finished the tournament tied for 31st at 7-over.
Chicago's Big Ten Team will be back in action when it travels to the Bruin/Wave Invitational in San Luis Obisipo, California, Feb. 24-25.