April 19, 2002

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Before competing in next week's Big Ten Tournament at Illinois, the Wildcat women's golfers play Saturday and Sunday (April 20-21) at the 17th Annual Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational, their final regular-season tournament. First-round action begins with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, with second-round action to follow Saturday afternoon. The tournament concludes with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. for the final round.

This weekend's tournament should give 31st-ranked Northwestern a good idea of what to expect at the league championship.

"Having seven Big Ten teams in Columbus, we want to get a barometer on where we stand heading into next weekend," said NU Head Coach Chris Regenberg. "Since we've been able to get outside for practice of late, we've become a better team.

"OSU's Scarlet Course, where we're playing this weekend, has been a good golf course for us. It favors our strengths. We're looking forward to a good weekend."

Besides Northwestern, No. 37 Indiana, No. 13 Michigan State, No. 54 Minnesota, No. 21 Purdue and No. 52 Wisconsin will join the host school, Ohio State, at this weekend's tournament. The Buckeyes, the defending tourney champion, are ranked fourth nationally. Other non-Big Ten teams in the field include: Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Notre Dame, Ohio, Toledo and Xavier. Ohio State also will have a second team entered in the field.

The Wildcats are paced by the Kim sisters, freshman Ina Kim (77.27 average) and sophomore Hana Kim (77.32), and senior Emily Gilley (77.36). Through 22 rounds of golf, the three players are separated by two strokes.

The Big Ten Championships begin Friday, April 26 in Champaign-Urbana, Ill.