Milestone victory for Stevenson’s Miller, Illinois

Led by Stevenson graduate Stephanie Miller, the University of Illinois women’s golf team held off Kansas on Sunday morning to secure victory in the Diane Thomason Invitational at Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City, Iowa.

Illinois shot a plus-35 over the three-round tournament, besting second-place Kansas by 5 strokes.

Miller carded the lowest individual score for the tournament, becoming the first Illinois freshman since Becky Biehl in 1992 to win a tournament outright. Miller was playing in just her third tourney as a college golfer.

She finished 3-under-par, which ranks as the sixth-lowest score in Illinois history for a 54-hole tournament. Miller won the tournament by a staggering 10 strokes, shooting 5 under over the final two rounds.

It was the first time she shot under par in 54-hole event.

“It felt amazing,” Miller said on U of I’s website. “I hit the ball pretty solid and made some putts and had some nice low scores. I played out for the win and it was just a bonus to my three good rounds.”

“Stephanie played a fantastic round of golf (Sunday),” Illini coch Renee Slone said. “She was just rock solid the entire day and played fearless. She managed her emotions well, and I couldn’t be happier and prouder of her to win in her third college event. It’s extremely exciting.”