Northwestern opened postseason play with a 10th place finish at the Big Ten Championships, competing in an 18-team field that included nine top-50 programs and two ranked in the top-six. The event tested the field from start to finish, offering a clear benchmark as the Wildcats prepare for NCAA regionals.
The Wildcats came out sharp in round one, carding a 10-over team score to sit in seventh after 18 holes. Megan Meng and Lauren E. Lee led the charge with even-par 70s. Meng delivered one of the most
electric stretches of the day, recording four consecutive birdies on the front nine to jumpstart her round. Lee matched the momentum, closing her front side with three birdies over her final five holes to keep Northwestern firmly in contention early.
Round two presented a tougher challenge, as scoring conditions tightened and Northwestern posted a 19-over team score. Ashley Yun and Dianna Lee paced the lineup with rounds of 3-over and 4-over. Yun continued her steady play, notching three birdies, including two on the demanding par-3 11th and 16th holes. Lee matched that total, with her highlight coming on the par-4 13th, which ranked as the second-toughest hole across the tournament. Despite the higher team score, both players provided stability in a round where consistency was difficult to find.
Looking to close strong, Northwestern recorded a 16-over team score in the final round to secure 10th place overall. Hsin Tai Lin led the ‘Cats on the final day with a 2-over performance. She set the tone immediately with back-to-back birdies to open her round and added a third later, providing a bright spot in a challenging final day.
Oakmont Country Club proved to be a formidable test throughout the tournament. The par-70 layout yielded a scoring average of 74.87 over three rounds, with the final round playing the most difficult at 75.72. 17 of the 18 holes played over par, underscoring the course’s difficulty. The par-4 first hole stood out as the toughest, playing to an average of 4.58, while the short par-4 seventh was the only hole to play under par for the field.
Yun emerged as Northwestern’s top finisher, placing 29th with consistent rounds of 75, 73 and 73. The junior totaled seven birdies and ranked 22nd in the field in par-4 scoring with an average of 4.19, highlighting her ability to navigate the course’s most demanding holes.
Tai Lin and Lauren E. Lee also turned in steady performances, finishing 36th and 38th. Tai Lin recorded eight birdies across the tournament, including one on the difficult par-4 15th. Lee delivered her best round on day one with an even-par 70 and showed remarkable consistency on the par-4 14th, birdieing it in all three rounds.
Dianna Lee and Meng rounded out the Wildcats’ lineup. Lee totaled seven birdies and excelled on par-5s, ranking seventh in the field with a 4.83 scoring average, finishing tied for 50th. Meng opened the tournament with a 70 that included six birdies, one of the highest single-round totals by a Wildcat during the weekend, and finished tied for 61st.
While the result fell short of expectations, Northwestern showed resilience and the ability to compete in a high-level field. With the NCAA Tournament ahead, the ‘Cats will look to build on those positives and sharpen their play for the next stage of postseason competition. The NCAA field will be announced Wednesday, April 29 at 3 p.m. CT on Golf Channel.
