University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Trio of Gophers Named as Big Ten Preseason Honorees
1/21/2021 2:00:00 PM | Women's Golf
A trio of women's golfers from the Gophers were selected as 2020-21 Big Ten Women's Golf Preseason Honorees, announced by the conference on Thursday. Seniors Joanne Free and Kate Lillie, along with sophomore Annabelle Ackroyd are Minnesota's honorees.
Free, a native of Gullane Scotland, finished the 2019-20 season with the team's best scoring average of 75.73, a figure which ranks 18th in Gopher program history. She led the Maroon and Gold at the Princess Anne Invitational, finishing tied for 31st. Free had her best finish of the season at the Cardinal Cup at a tie for 26th.
Lillie was second in overall strong average at 75.76 in the 2019-20 season. The St. Charles, Ill., native placed 12th (76-69--145, +1) and led the Gophers at the Minnesota Invitational, also setting her new career-best finish. Lillie led the team again at the ANNIKA Invitational where she tied for 39th.
Ackroyd, a Calgary, Alberta native, finished third on the team in scoring average (76.18) after playing in six tournaments in 2019-20. She led the team and finished tied for seventh at The Gold Rush. Ackroyd also had a strong performance at the Juli Inkster Invitational, where she finished in a tie for 23rd. Over the summer, the sophomore asserted herself once again as the best young golfer in the Alberta province, capturing her third Alberta Junior Girls Championship. Ackroyd earned a six-shot victory in the 54-hole tournament, finishing at 2-under par (68-66-73—207).
Free, a native of Gullane Scotland, finished the 2019-20 season with the team's best scoring average of 75.73, a figure which ranks 18th in Gopher program history. She led the Maroon and Gold at the Princess Anne Invitational, finishing tied for 31st. Free had her best finish of the season at the Cardinal Cup at a tie for 26th.
Lillie was second in overall strong average at 75.76 in the 2019-20 season. The St. Charles, Ill., native placed 12th (76-69--145, +1) and led the Gophers at the Minnesota Invitational, also setting her new career-best finish. Lillie led the team again at the ANNIKA Invitational where she tied for 39th.
Ackroyd, a Calgary, Alberta native, finished third on the team in scoring average (76.18) after playing in six tournaments in 2019-20. She led the team and finished tied for seventh at The Gold Rush. Ackroyd also had a strong performance at the Juli Inkster Invitational, where she finished in a tie for 23rd. Over the summer, the sophomore asserted herself once again as the best young golfer in the Alberta province, capturing her third Alberta Junior Girls Championship. Ackroyd earned a six-shot victory in the 54-hole tournament, finishing at 2-under par (68-66-73—207).
Follow Women's Golf
Reese McCauley Hole in One
Tuesday, September 16
Alum Emma Carpenter Makes BTN Debut
Monday, September 08
Isabella & Reese McCauley - Gopher Women's Golf - Minnesota Made
Friday, May 09
Teeing Off - ANNIKA Intercollegiate
Monday, September 09