The Illinois women’s golf team ended last season with a last-place finish at the Big Ten Championship in French Lick, Ind.
Despite the sub-par performances last season, head coach Renee Slone and the Illini are using it as learning experience moving forward.
While you were out
Sam Postillion, Michelle Mayer, Ember Schuldt and Erin Ahern used summer play as a chance to shine.
Mayer, Schuldt, and Postillion all qualified for the Illinois Women’s State Amateur Championship, where Postillion advanced to the quarterfinals and Schuldt made it all the way into the semifinals.
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Both Schuldt and Erin Ahern earned a spot in the US Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship. Schuldt qualified for match play and advanced to the round of 16 after she lost on the No. 19 hole. She also qualified for the US Women’s Amateur Championship in South Carolina, one of the world’s most prestigious for women’s amateur golfers. Schuldt carded rounds of 73 and 72 finishing tied for 22nd out of a 156 player field.
Off the course, Mayer, Jackie Calamaro and Crystal Smith all earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. Mayer and Schuldt furthered their recognition each by earning the Big Ten Distinguished Scholars award for having a minimum 3.7 GPA in the previous academic year, a varsity letter and in at least their second academic year.
What to watch for
The Illini have added Emily Joers and Stephanie Miller to the roster over the summer. Joers was a four-time first-team All-State selection while Miller was a two-time Illinois state champion. Miller, a Wauconda, Ill., native, was also a three-time Illinois Junior Golf Association Player of the Year.
With five tournaments coming up in September and October, the Illini can only hope the summer tournaments prepared them for what to expect. With the addition of two recruits, the team is looking to move up the rankings this season. They will kick off play on Sept. 9 in Fort Collins, Colo., in the Ptarmigan Ram Classic before traveling to Minneapolis for the Minnesota Invitational.
Claire can be reached at [email protected] and @ClaireLav228.
