Women’s Golf: ‘Cats place sixth at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate

Coming off an eighth-place finish at the Moon Golf Invitational, Northwestern women’s golf traveled to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina to compete in the prestigious Darius Rucker Intercollegiate at Long Cove Club. The tournament featured an elite field including 10 of the nation’s top-20 teams, with six of those squads ranked in the top 10. The 10th-ranked Wildcats faced difficult playing conditions but steadily improved throughout the event, ultimately finishing in a tie for sixth after three days of competition.

Northwestern got off to a slow start on day one, with no player finishing under par. Lauryn Nguyen and Ashley Yun led the team with rounds of 2-over, while Elise Lee sparked a highlight moment with four consecutive birdies from holes 2-5. The ‘Cats posted a team score of 14-over, placing them in a tie for 13th out of 17 teams.

NU showed significant improvement on day two, carding a 4-over team score. Nguyen and Yun led the charge, each shooting 1-under, which played a key role in the team’s turnaround. Northwestern excelled on the front nine, going 4-under collectively, and their strong play helped them climb to ninth place. Though they remained 15 shots behind first-place South Carolina, the ‘Cats positioned themselves for a potential late push.

The final round brought brutal conditions, with consistent winds of 25-30 miles per hour and heavy rain. Northwestern, unfortunately, drew an early tee time, forcing them to battle the worst of the weather while other teams remained in the clubhouse. Play was eventually suspended, and by the time the team reached their final six holes, conditions had improved to mild sun and winds around 20 mph—significantly more manageable than the earlier stretch.

The tough start took its toll, as NU posted a 9-over score on the normally more forgiving front nine. However, once the weather settled, the team responded with a 2-under back nine. Elise Lee delivered an impressive round given the circumstances, carding a 1-over score, while Nguyen finished at 2-over. Despite an 11-over team total for the day, Northwestern managed to climb the leaderboard, securing a tie for sixth place in one of the strongest fields of the season.

Northwestern excelled on par-3s throughout the tournament, finishing even-par on those holes—good for the fourth-best mark in the field. The Wildcats also ranked sixth in total birdies and fifth in pars, demonstrating consistency despite the course’s relentless challenge. No hole played under par for the week, emphasizing the difficulty of the Long Cove Club layout. The 18th hole, a demanding par-4, was the toughest on the course, with an average score of 4.40. Across the field, the par-71 course played to an astonishing average of 75.06, with the final round proving to be the most grueling, as players averaged 75.21. Given these numbers, it’s safe to say this was one of the toughest tests the ‘Cats will face all season.

Individually, Lauryn Nguyen led the way for Northwestern, posting rounds of 73, 70 and 73. Her standout performance came in the second round, where she fired a 1-under 70, fueled by three consecutive birdies from holes 5-8. She was particularly strong on par-3s, averaging 2.83 strokes per hole—fifth-best in the field. Nguyen’s steady play earned her a tie for eighth at 3-over, an impressive finish considering the strength of the competition.

Ashley Yun and Elise Lee also delivered strong performances. Yun’s best round came on day two when she shot 1-under, carding two birdies, 15 pars and just one bogey. Lee saved her best for the final round, firing a 1-over 72 with three birdies. Both players secured top-30 finishes, with Yun tying for 26th and Lee finishing in a tie for 29th.

Dianna Lee, Hsin Tai Lin and Megan Meng rounded out the Cats’ lineup. Dianna Lee’s best performance came in the second round when she shot 2-over, ultimately finishing tied for 46th. Tai Lin recorded two rounds of 75 en route to a 56th-place finish, while Meng saved her best for last, closing with a 72 to finish in 61st.

With a few weeks to reset, Northwestern will now turn its attention to the PING/ASU Invitational, held Mar. 28-30 in Phoenix. The Wildcats will be looking to defend their title after winning the event in each of the last two years. While they are facing another strong field, they’ll aim to build on their solid showing at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate and continue their success in Arizona.