It wasn’t the week the ’Cats envisioned, but their consistent play leaves them well-positioned for NCAA Regionals.
After a victory at the Silverado Showdown, the ’Cats entered postseason play with momentum. The Big Ten Championships, held in Havre de Grace, Maryland, featured a competitive field that included all 18 Big Ten teams – three ranked in the top 10 and six in the top 27 nationally. In the three-day tournament, Northwestern finished in fifth place and secured its seventh top-5 finish in nine events.
In round one, the team battled high winds and tough conditions, finishing 5-over as a group. Hsin Tai Lin led the way with an even-par round, highlighted by three birdies. Ashley Yun and Dianna Lee also delivered solid performances, each carding a 1-over 73. NU ended the day tied for fifth with work to do to stay in contention.
The ’Cats improved in round two, shooting 3-over as a team. Tai Lin stayed hot with a 1-under 71, and Yun matched her score to keep Northwestern in the mix. Despite being 11 shots off the lead and still tied for fifth, the team remained within striking distance heading into a windy final round.
On the final day, Northwestern delivered its best round of the week, posting a 2-over team score. Dianna Lee sparked the charge with a 2-under 70 that included four birdies, while Tai Lin stayed consistent with another 71. The ’Cats finished the tournament in solo fifth at 10-over, capping off a solid postseason showing.
The course proved challenging throughout the week, with players averaging 74.73 on the par-72 layout. The opening round was the toughest, as scores averaged 75.39 – more than three shots over par. 16 of the 18 holes played over par, with the par-4 13th standing out as the most difficult, yielding a 4.37 scoring average. The only holes to play under par were two par-5s: the 8th and the 13th. Northwestern excelled on the par-3s, leading the field with a 3.02 team scoring average on those holes.
Individually, Hsin Tai Lin led the way for the ’Cats, finishing at 2-under. She was steady across all three rounds, posting scores of 72, 71 and 71 and totaling 12 birdies for the week. Her par-4 scoring was especially strong at 2-under overall, ranking sixth in the field. The first-year standout finished in a tie for fifth place.
Ashley Yun and Dianna Lee also turned in impressive performances, both earning top-20 finishes. Yun shot rounds of 73, 71 and 74 to finish at 2-over, excelling on par-3s with a 2.83 scoring average: third best in the field. She placed in a tie for 15th. Lee delivered scores of 73, 76 and 70, capping off her week with a strong final round. The junior’s 4.75 average on par-5s ranked ninth in the field, helping her secure a tie for 19th at 3-over.
Lauryn Nguyen, fresh off her title at the Silverado Showdown, had her best round on day two, carding a 2-over 74. Though she finished 40th, Nguyen led the entire field in par-3 scoring average and remains a driving force for the ’Cats as they head into NCAA Regionals. Elise Lee, just weeks removed from a 14th-place finish at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, shot 75 in both her second and third rounds. The first-year finished in a tie for 61st.
Northwestern will return to action at the NCAA Regionals, held May 5–7. The team will learn its destination during the NCAA Selection Show on Wednesday, April 23, airing at 12 p.m. CT on the Golf Channel. With momentum and several strong performances behind them, the ’Cats will look to carry their success into the next round of postseason play.