No. 15 ‘Cats Roar Into 2023 Big Ten Championships

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania — No. 15 Northwestern women’s golf will tee off the 2023 Big Ten Championships on Friday morning at Fox Chapel Golf Club (Par-71; 6,045 yards) in search of the fourth team title in program history. 

TEAM Leaderboard – 2023 Big Ten Championships (Golfstat)

INDIVIDUAL Leaderboard – 2023 Big Ten Championships (Golfstat)

The Wildcats will tee off in Pittsburgh as one of the hottest teams in college golf, having won the team championship at each of its last two tournaments (PING/ASU Invitational, Silverado Showdown) with a balanced attack throughout the lineup. 

Northwestern is seeking to add a fourth Big Ten Championship to the Gleacher Golf Center trophy case under head coach Emily Fletcher and assistant Beth Miller‘s leadership, having captured the crown in 2013, 2015 and 2016.

The ‘Cats lineup in the six-count-four format will include:

1. Lauryn Nguyen: Has a team-best seven Top-25 finishes this season, and has finished Top-6 in three of her last four events … Owns the second-best stroke average on the roster this season (71.9) and the best career scoring average (72.9) of any player with at least ten events … 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

2. Dianna Lee: Has finished in the Top-10 in four-of-five events this spring, including a career-best T2 result this month at the Silverado Showdown … Has posted a team-best eight rounds in the 60’s this season including back-to-back 69s in rounds 2 and 3 at Silverado.

3. Jieni Li: Has shot at-or-below par in 12 of her last 18 rounds … Finished a career-best T5 at Silverado … Has finished Top20 in five of her last six events … Matched a career-low with a 68 in the first round at Silverado.

4. Kelly Sim: Crossed the 10,000-shot mark for her career this month at Silverado … Leads the team with six Top-5, nine Top-10 and 25 Top-25 results in her career … Won the 2023 PING/ASU Invitational, the third championship of her career.

5. Irene Kim: 2021 Big Ten Player of the Year … 2020 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

6. Jennifer Cai: Making her return to the team lineup after back-to-back tournaments competing as an individual … Second-most experienced golfer on the ‘Cats roster, making the 28th tournament apperance of her career.

Along with the Wildcats, the 14-team field for the Big Ten Championships will include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland,…