MEDINAH, Ill. – The UCF women’s golf team got off to an incredible start Monday at the Illini Invitational, finishing 36 holes of play in first place. The Knights hold a six-stroke lead over tournament host Illinois, sitting at 24-under par at Medinah Country Club.
UCF opened with a 279 (-9) in the first round before heating up in the afternoon—despite a rain delay—to post a 273 (-15). Altogether, the Knights totaled 46 birdies on the day and ranked No. 1 in both par-3 and par-4 scoring.
A trio of Knights are tied for third at 138 (-6): Molly Smith, Tiffany Tsai and Mila Jurine. Tsai fired a 66 (-6) in the second round after carding a 72 (E) to start the day, while Smith and Jurine each turned in rounds of 68 and 70.
Pimpisa Sisutham finished the first two rounds just outside the top 10 with a 36-hole total of 140 (-4), tying for 11th place. One Kashima rebounded from a 73 in the opening round to card a 69 and move into 20th.
Competing as an individual, Kinga Kusmierska delivered two steady under-par rounds with scores of 71 and 69.
The Knights will tee off in the third and final round of the Illini Invitational at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7.