Lillie Helps Gopher Women to 11th-Place Finish at Minnesota Invite to Open the 2019-20 Season

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  WOODBURY, Minn. – Led by junior Kate Lillie’s round of 69 to close out the championship Tuesday, the University of Minnesota women’s golf team opened the 2019-2020 season with an 11^th-place finish at the seventh Minnesota Invitational at Prestwick Golf Club.
 
Severe weather halted play three times during the first two rounds Monday, eventually shortening the championship to 36 holes. During the conclusion of the second round Tuesday, the Gopher women jumped four spots on the leaderboard during the final round to finish at 19-over 595, 18 strokes behind the team champions from the University of Kentucky, who earned a wire-to-wire three-stroke victory over East Carolina University.
 
Beginning her second round on the fourth hole, Lillie played her opening nine holes in 1-over par before holing out for eagle at the par-4 13^th to get back to 1-under for the round. Carding a pair of birdies over her final eight holes to post a final-round 69 to finish in 12^th place at 1-over 145.
 
Bouncing back from an 80 during the opening round, fellow junior Joanne Free fired a 1-under 71 to help the Gophers’ cause. Playing her opening nine at even par during her final round, Free carded three birdies during her inward nine to finish tied for 46^th at 151.
 
The University of Georgia’s Caterina Don opened the championship with a round of 6-under 66 Monday and followed it by shooting 3-under 69 during the final round Tuesday to edge San Jose State University’s Natasha Andrea Oon by one shot and claim a wire-to-wire victory at 9-under 135.
 
The Gopher women remain on home soil and will compete in the ANNIKA Intercollegiate Presented by 3M Sept. 16-18 at The Royal Club in Lake Elmo, Minn.
 
 
 
2019 MINNESOTA INVITATIONAL
PRESTWICK GOLF CLUB
WOODBURY, MINN.
6,297 YARDS, PAR 72
 
 
TUESDAY’S FINAL TEAM RESULTS
1. Kentucky, 288-289—577
2. East Carolina, 294-286—580
T3. San Jose State, 291-291—582
T3. Louisville, 297-285—582
T3. Virginia Tech, 291-291—582
T6. Oklahoma, 290-295—585
T6. Georgia, 294-291—585
8. San Francisco, 299-287—586
9. Miami, 295-293—588
10. Notre Dame, 296-298—594
11. MINNESOTA, 307-288—595
12. Texas-San Antonio, 292-308—600
13. Long Beach State, 302-301—603
14. Missouri, 302-303—605
15. Kansas, 299-307—606
 
 
TUESDAY’S FINAL INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1. Caterina Don, Georgia, 66-69—135
2. Natasha Andrea Oon, SJSU, 69-67—136
T3. Siranon Shoomee, ECU, 70-68—138
T3. Jensen Castle, Kentucky, 69-69—138
5. Delaney Shah, Louisville, 68-71—139
6. Noelle Beijer, Missouri, 70-71—141
T7. Lauren Hartlage, Louisville, 74-69—143
T7. Sarah Fite, Kentucky, 73-70—143 (playing as individual)
T7. Dorthea Forbridgd, ECU, 72-71—143
T7. Lauren Thibodeau, Louisville, 72-71—143 (playing as individual)
 
T12. KATE LILLE, MINNESOTA, 76-69—145
T46. JOANNE FREE, MINNESOTA, 80-71—151
T53. EMMA CARPENTER, MINNESOTA, 74-78—152
T53. GRACE CURRAN, MINNESOTA, 80-72—152
T53. SOPHIA YOEMANS, MISSOURI, 76-76—152
T59. ANNABELLE ACKROYD, MINNESOTA, 77-76—153
T63. GRACE KELLAR, MINNESOTA, 77-77—154 (playing as individual)
T67. KAREN ZHANG, MINNESOTA, 79-76—155 (playing as individual)
77. JESSICA LEE, MINNESOTA, 79-78—157 (playing as individual)
 
 
For complete tournament results go to: http://results.golfstat.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=team&tid=18217