The Illinois women’s golf team was riding high Sunday afternoon at the Westbrook Spring Invitational in Peoria, Arizona, sitting in third place and coming off its best round of the season.

The Illini were primed to make a run in the final round and finally break its string of poor previous spring seasons.

However, everything came crashing down on Illinois following a final round Monday where it dropped five positions to finish in eighth — out of 15 teams — for the second straight year.

The Illini opened the tournament with a 3-over par 291 in the first round Sunday, putting them in sixth. Illinois got out to a hot start in the second round, combining for seven birdies and an eagle on its way to an even par 288. The Illini followed that up by shooting an 8-over 296 to finish 11-over for the tournament.

Head coach Renee Slone said she was disappointed with her team’s play in the final round.

“There were a wealth of birdie opportunities out there and we just didn’t give ourselves enough chances today,” Slone said.

The highest finisher for the Illini was the unlikely freshman Chayanid Prapassarangkul. She opened her tournament with a 1-over round, but rebounded in her second round. Prapassarangkul only had one bogey and went eagle-birdie on holes 14 and 15 en route to a 2-under second round. Her eagle was one of only four in the entire tournament, and was the fourth for the Illini this season.

“I hit my drive right down the fairway, and then I laid up for my second shot,” Prapassarangkul said. “I had like 95 yards left for my third and I tried to draw it in to the hole, and holed it out.”

Prapassarangkul shot 2-under in her final round to finish at 3-under for the tournament in a tie for third.

“Overall, she was very solid from tee to green,” Slone said. “She worked on getting her speed on the greens dialed in more, and I think that paid off (on Monday). I think she was in a great mental state and was relaxed out there.”

Dana Gattone got out to an early start in the first round, birdieing her opening hole and two of her first six. She went into her final hole of the day 3-under, but a bogey would lead to a 2-under 70 for the round. Gattone stayed in the top 10 throughout the second round, firing a 1-over 73. However, she faltered in round three with a 4-over 76, leading to a 3-over 219 total.

“Early on, I was really happy with my game,” Gattone said. “Overall, my game held up really well in competition, and I gave myself a lot of birdie chances. I was really happy to be in contention through the first day of play.”

The rest of the Illini did not contribute much, with sophomore Stephanie Miller and freshman Grace Park each shooting 9-over. Sophomore Emily Joers, who was named Big Ten Player of the Week after her last match, finished tied for 59th at 10-over. Individual Pimploy Thirati, whose score did not count for the team, shot 16-over and finished in a tie for 75.

Although it was a rough ending for the Illini, Slone still thinks it will do them well in the long run.

“I think (Sunday) was a huge positive. To be posting two very solid rounds in a very competitive field and including ourselves in the final pairing was big,” Slone said. “It’s a good step forward, and sometimes you have to experience those things and learn from them so that you can be better prepared for the next time.”

[email protected]

@LucasWright95