Illinois finished atop the leaderboard at the Boilermaker Spring Classic on Monday, ending 11-over par.
Illinois topped the 16-team field at the Ackerman-Allen Course, ending its regular season on a high note. The victory marked its first team title this spring after two consecutive runner-up finishes. With a final score of 875, Illinois edged Denver by one stroke. Illinois’ strong play sets the stage for the upcoming Big Ten Championship, slated for April 18-20.
Hot start, strong finish
The Illini led after day one, posting a 1-over 577 across 36 holes. Junior Anna Ritter and sophomore Yurang Li shot a 2-under 142, tying for fourth individually. Ritter’s steady rounds of 71-71 featured five birdies and just two bogeys. Li opened with an even-par 72, then fired a 70 with seven birdies total.
On day two, Illinois held firm in the final few holes despite a 298 team score. Ritter added a 73 to finish fourth overall, posting a 215 total over the three rounds. Li closed with a 78, slipping to a tie for ninth at 220. Depth carried the team, as all five golfers finished inside the top 50.
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Ritter, Li lead the charge
Ritter’s consistency stood out, leading the field with 29 pars and a 2.75 par-3 average. Li’s seven birdies tied for sixth in the tournament, boosting her second-round surge. Both golfers enter the postseason with momentum, key for a team eyeing a Big Ten title.
Senior Lexanne Halama’s second-round 70, with four birdies in five holes, showcased the Illini’s resilience. Zheng’s 14 pars in round two nearly matched her bogey-free effort, jolting her up the leaderboard.
Depth shines through
Junior Victoria Zheng posted rounds of 78-70-74, landing at 222 and tying for 16th. Halama finished close behind at 223, tying for 18th. Junior Brielle Mapanao rounded out the lineup, carding 76-79-75 for 230 and a tie for 48th.
Denver did its best to mount a comeback, taking a one-stroke lead heading into the final two holes. It took great determination and grit for the Illini to manage a two-stroke swing, finishing one stroke ahead of the Pioneers.
Lay of the land
The Boilermaker Spring Classic unfolded over two days at the par-72, 6,211-yard Ackerman-Allen Course. Teams played 36 holes on Sunday and 18 on Monday, starting with 8 a.m. CST shotgun starts. The Pete Dye-designed layout demanded precision, with tight fairways and firm greens.
Illinois thrived under pressure, distancing itself from Cincinnati (881) and Illinois State (882). Host Purdue finished eighth at 893, while Minnesota and South Alabama tied for fifth at 888.
Looking ahead
The Illini next head to Havre de Grace, Maryland, for the Big Ten Championship at Bulle Rock Golf Course. Play begins Friday, April 18, and runs through Sunday, April 20. With a regular season title already in hand, Illinois looks poised for a strong postseason performance.
@Jordan_Goodhart
