Monday, October 7
Medinah Country Club – Medinah, Ill.
All Day
University of Houston
vs
Illini Invitational at Medinah
Women’s Golf Tees Leads after First Day at Illini Invitational at Medinah
10/7/2024 9:10:00 PM | Women's Golf
Junior Alexa Saldana, freshman Annika Ishiyama tied for sixth at 6-under 138; Sophomore Maelynn Kim tied for 11th
MEDINAH, Ill. – University of Houston Women's Golf junior Alexa Saldana and freshman Annika Ishiyama each fired scores of 70-68 to lead the Cougars and tie for sixth at 6-under 138 following the first day of the Illini Invitational at Medinah on Monday evening.
As a team, the Cougars proved steady throughout the day and held a one-stroke lead over Mississippi with a 36-hole score of 556. Opening with a total of 281 in the First Round, Houston bettered that by six shots in the afternoon session on the 6,166-yard, par-72 Course No. 2.
Sophomore Maelynn Kim joined Saldana and Ishiyama among the Top-11 leaders after posting a pair of sub-par scores of her own. The Katy, Texas, native was tied for 11th at 5-under 139, thanks to a 68 in the First Round.
After opening the tournament with a 70, Ishiyama birdied two of her first three holes to start the afternoon round. The Costa Mesa, Calif., native rebounded from a bogey at No. 4 to birdie two of the final three holes of her first nine.
Ishiyama added additional birdies at No. 12 and No. 18 to finish with one round of 68 in the third straight tournament to open her collegiate career.
Saldana used a late finish in the Second Round to surge among the Top-10 leaders. Starting off No. 3, the Mexico City native made the first of her six birdies at No. 7 and then drained three straight birdies at Nos. 13-15.
She overcame a double-bogey at No. 18 and finished the day with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 1-2 on the way to a 68,.
Starting off No. 2, Kim opened her Illini Invitational at Medinah with a birdie and overcame a bogey at No. 6 to alternate birdies and pars over the final four holes of her first nine. She added her final birdie of the round on the par-3 12th hole and finished with a 68.
Junior Moa Svedenskiold was tied for 17th at 141 while junior Natalie Saint Germain was tied for 39th at 145.
Illinois' Lexanne Halama held the individual lead at 134 while UCLA's Zoe Antoinette Campos and Pimpisa Sisutham of UCF were tied for second at 135. Anna Davis (Auburn) was tied for fourth at 136 with Maryland's Anna Pillard in fifth at 137.
Mississippi teammates Caitlyn Macnab and Kajsalotta Svarvar and Johanna Sjursen of ULM joined Ishiyama and Saldana in a tie for sixth.
The Final Round tees off with an 8:30 a.m., shotgun start Tuesday.
LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring at the Illini Invitational at Medinah on Scoreboard by clicking here.
TEE TIMES
For Tuesday's Final Round, Houston will compete in groups with student-athletes from Mississippi and UCF.
Saldana begins the day for the Cougars in the first group off No. 1 with Ishiyama (second group of No. 1), Kim (No. 2), Saint Germain (first group off No. 3) and Svedenskiold (second group off No. 3) following.
Fans can find complete tee times and pairings on Scoreboard by clicking here.
ILLINI INVITATIONAL at MEDINAH HISTORY
This marks the second straight season in which the Cougars will compete at the Illini Invitational at Medinah.
A year ago, Houston tied for sixth with a score of even-par 864. Current junior Moa Svedenskiold fired three straight rounds of par or lower, including a 67 in the Final Round, to tie for sixth at 5-under 211. Current junior Alexa Saldana joined her among the Top-20 leaders.
UP NEXT
The Cougars close their fall campaign at the Jim West Challenge at Kissing Tree Golf Club in San Marcos, Texas, on Oct. 20-21.
Houston finished third at the 2023 tournament with Kim tying for ninth at 9-under 207, thanks to a 68 in the Final Round.
From there, the Cougars will take their holiday break before opening the spring season at the Collegiate Individual at Guadalajara Country Club in Mexico on Jan. 30-Feb. 2, 2025.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Women's Golf by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective – and by joining the P.A.R. 4 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Women's Golf for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarWGolf on X (formerly known as Twitter) and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarWGolf or on the team's Instagram page at UHCougarWGolf.
– UHCougars.com –
As a team, the Cougars proved steady throughout the day and held a one-stroke lead over Mississippi with a 36-hole score of 556. Opening with a total of 281 in the First Round, Houston bettered that by six shots in the afternoon session on the 6,166-yard, par-72 Course No. 2.
Sophomore Maelynn Kim joined Saldana and Ishiyama among the Top-11 leaders after posting a pair of sub-par scores of her own. The Katy, Texas, native was tied for 11th at 5-under 139, thanks to a 68 in the First Round.
After opening the tournament with a 70, Ishiyama birdied two of her first three holes to start the afternoon round. The Costa Mesa, Calif., native rebounded from a bogey at No. 4 to birdie two of the final three holes of her first nine.
Ishiyama added additional birdies at No. 12 and No. 18 to finish with one round of 68 in the third straight tournament to open her collegiate career.
Saldana used a late finish in the Second Round to surge among the Top-10 leaders. Starting off No. 3, the Mexico City native made the first of her six birdies at No. 7 and then drained three straight birdies at Nos. 13-15.
She overcame a double-bogey at No. 18 and finished the day with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 1-2 on the way to a 68,.
Starting off No. 2, Kim opened her Illini Invitational at Medinah with a birdie and overcame a bogey at No. 6 to alternate birdies and pars over the final four holes of her first nine. She added her final birdie of the round on the par-3 12th hole and finished with a 68.
Junior Moa Svedenskiold was tied for 17th at 141 while junior Natalie Saint Germain was tied for 39th at 145.
Illinois' Lexanne Halama held the individual lead at 134 while UCLA's Zoe Antoinette Campos and Pimpisa Sisutham of UCF were tied for second at 135. Anna Davis (Auburn) was tied for fourth at 136 with Maryland's Anna Pillard in fifth at 137.
Mississippi teammates Caitlyn Macnab and Kajsalotta Svarvar and Johanna Sjursen of ULM joined Ishiyama and Saldana in a tie for sixth.
The Final Round tees off with an 8:30 a.m., shotgun start Tuesday.
LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring at the Illini Invitational at Medinah on Scoreboard by clicking here.
TEE TIMES
For Tuesday's Final Round, Houston will compete in groups with student-athletes from Mississippi and UCF.
Saldana begins the day for the Cougars in the first group off No. 1 with Ishiyama (second group of No. 1), Kim (No. 2), Saint Germain (first group off No. 3) and Svedenskiold (second group off No. 3) following.
Fans can find complete tee times and pairings on Scoreboard by clicking here.
ILLINI INVITATIONAL at MEDINAH HISTORY
This marks the second straight season in which the Cougars will compete at the Illini Invitational at Medinah.
A year ago, Houston tied for sixth with a score of even-par 864. Current junior Moa Svedenskiold fired three straight rounds of par or lower, including a 67 in the Final Round, to tie for sixth at 5-under 211. Current junior Alexa Saldana joined her among the Top-20 leaders.
UP NEXT
The Cougars close their fall campaign at the Jim West Challenge at Kissing Tree Golf Club in San Marcos, Texas, on Oct. 20-21.
Houston finished third at the 2023 tournament with Kim tying for ninth at 9-under 207, thanks to a 68 in the Final Round.
From there, the Cougars will take their holiday break before opening the spring season at the Collegiate Individual at Guadalajara Country Club in Mexico on Jan. 30-Feb. 2, 2025.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Women's Golf by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective – and by joining the P.A.R. 4 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Women's Golf for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarWGolf on X (formerly known as Twitter) and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarWGolf or on the team's Instagram page at UHCougarWGolf.
– UHCougars.com –
Players Mentioned
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