The University of Illinois Springfield women's golf team had its best team round in program history during the final 18 holes of the McKendree Bearcat Duel Gender. The Prairie Stars broke 300 as a team for the first time with a score of 298, setting a new record by three shots.
UIS opened the tournament with identical rounds of 313 in each of the first two rounds. In the third round, it improved by 16 shots in its record-breaking round. The Prairie Stars recorded 16 birdies on the day, including 12 on the front nine. UIS was five-under as a team through nine holes, and finished 11-over for the entire round.
That round helped UIS finish with a 924 score, which was also a school record for 54 holes, and its second and third round total of 611 was a school mark for 36 holes. The Prairie Stars finished third overall in a field that included nine teams, including eight GLVC squads.
DeRousse improved each round, starting with an 80 in round one, and then shooting even par for the final 36 holes. In the final round, she shot a three-under for the front nine with four birdies, four pars, and one bogey. Her attempt for a new program record for a round went down to the final holes. She was four-under after 16 holes, and finished with a two-under 70. That mark was one off the school record, and one of five rounds in program history of 70 or less.
DeRousse was eighth in the individual standings with a 224, and she tied teammate
Paula Valdivia. Valdivia had two rounds of one-over 73 at the tournament, including her final round in which she made five birdies.
Jennifer Queller had a top-20 finish with a 235. Her best round came on Monday with a two-over 74, and she shot a 79 in the final round.
Kathryn Gleason shot a 242 over 54 holes. She also improved her score each round, including a 76 for the final 18 holes.
Brianna Harwell rounded out the team with a 254, including a low round of 80 for the third round.
Three men's golfers also competed in the event as individuals. Among the highlights was
Aryaman Mohan shooting a three-over 75 on Tuesday, and finishing fifth overall with a 155.
Hagen Sanchez shot a two-day total of 172.
The McKendree Bearcat Duel Gender Tournament ends the fall seasons for the men's and women's golf programs.