Oct. 9, 2007

FRANKLIN, Ind. - Illinois senior Seul Ki Park earned her second career tournament victory with her final-round 73 at the Shootout at the Legends on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Park tallied a four-under 212 to edge out Eastern Michigan's Catherine Fortin (214) by two strokes at the 6,356-yard, par-72 Legends of Indiana Golf Course. Illinois finished in second place after a final round 305, giving them a season-low tournament total of 900.

Park's four-under 212 not only tied the Legends of Indiana course record, but also tied current Illinois head coach Renee Slone's individual record low for a 54-hole tournament. Park's previous tournament victory came at last spring's Indiana Invitational.

"Seul Ki had a great ball-striking tournament," Illinois head coach Renee Slone said. "She played a very steady and smart tournament. She focused on playing her game, even though her competitor made a lot of putts down the stretch. It was great to see her finish strong and birdie the 18th hole."

Illinois earned its second straight second-place finish at the Shootout at the Legends. This year's tournament total of 900 ranks second all-time for an Illinois team in a 54-hole tournament behind last year's Shootout at the Legends total of 890.

"We were pleased with our position going into the final round, but overall did not have a great day," Slone said. "Eastern Michigan came out firing on all cylinders. They had a balanced scoring attack with four solid finishers in the top 10."

Senior Stephanie Mory (76-77-75-228) fired a final-round 75, tying her for 12th overall. Fellow seniors Casey Burden (83-74-78-235) and Kristine Cook (81-75-79-235) finished tied for 29th after carding final rounds of 78 and 79, respectively. Senior Kristin Kallergis (77-79-80-236) and junior Nancy Featherstone (77-81-88-246) carded final rounds of 80 and 88, not counting toward the team's final-round total. Mory, Burden and Kallergis each notched season-low totals for a tournament.

Illinois will next travel to Austin, Texas on Nov. 4-5 to compete in the Challenge at Wolfdancer, the team's final tournament of the fall season.

FINAL TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Eastern Michigan 290-305-293 - 888
2. ILLINOIS 296-299-305 - 900
3. Grand Valley State 305-296-303 - 904
4. Illinois State 303-300-313 - 916
5. Ball State 305-299-316 - 920
6. Southern Illinois 307-308-310 - 925
7. Georgetown 296-314-325 - 935
8. St. John's 314-315-307 - 936
9. Northern Illinois 305-319-317 - 941
10. Indiana State 311-316-319 - 946
11. Toledo 310-316-321 - 947
12. Bowling Green State 328-322-318 - 968
13. Old Dominion 329-323-328 - 980

FINAL ILLINOIS RESULTS
1. Seul Ki Park 66-73-73 - 212 (-4)
T12. Stephanie Mory 76-77-75 - 228 (+12)
T29. Kristine Cook 81-75-79 - 235 (+19)
T29. Casey Burden 83-74-78 - 235 (+19)
T34. Kristin Kallergis 77-79-80 - 236 (+20)
T58. Nancy Featherstone 77-81-88 - 246 (+30)