NORMAL, Ill. (September 16, 2023) – The No. 17 Denison University women’s golf team finds itself in third place out of 19 teams after shooting a first-round score of 294 (+6) at the Illinois Wesleyan Fall Classic at the par-72, 5,800-yard Ironwood Golf Course in Normal, Illinois, on Saturday. Denison’s round-one-score of 294 was its lowest 18-hole score since breaking the program record with a 287 during the second round of the OWU Fall Invitational on September 8, 2019, during Head Coach Lauren Grogan‘s first season leading the Big Red.
In addition to the Big Red and the hosts from No. 14-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University, the field of teams includes Augustana, Aurora, Central, DePauw, Dubuque, Franklin, Grinnell, Illinois College, Millikin, Olivet, Rose-Hulman, St. Mary’s, No. 24 UW-Whitewater, and No. 2 WashU. In addition to the four nationally ranked squads, Grinnell and Rose-Hulman are also receiving votes in the latest Women’s Golf Coaches Association Top-25.
Denison trails only WashU (288; even) in first place and Illinois Wesleyan (290; +2) in second and is 11 strokes in front of a three-team tie for fourth place. Denison is also tied for first in the tournament in birdies (14) with IWU and is third in par-3 scoring (3.00; E).
Kate Griffin and Natalia Fanucchi find themselves in a four-player tie for sixth place out of 112 total golfers with an even-par round-one score of 72. Both players are tied for fourth in the field with four birdies as well while Fanucchi is tied for second in par-3 scoring (2.50; -2).
Anna Klass is in a three-player tie for 14th at 74 (+2) while Ella McRoberts is in a seven-player tie for 20th at 76 (+4). McRoberts is also tied for first in the tournament in par-5 scoring (4.50; -2).
Denison’s top player competing as an individual is Morgan Gilmore (80) in a five-player tie for 54th at plus-eight.
The final round will take place Sunday, September 17, beginning with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
Round One Results
