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Northwestern advanced to the NCAA women’s golf championships for the fifth consecutive year, finishing second Wednesday in an 18-team regional in Athens, Ga.

The Wildcats will get to play relatively close to home in the May 19-24 championships at Rich Harvest Farms in west suburban Sugar Grove.

The top six teams in each of four regionals advanced. Northwestern’s third-round score of 5-under 283 was the best of the day in Athens, and the Wildcats’ 54-hole total of 7-over 871 was 14 strokes behind Alabama.

Sarah Cho closed with a 4-under 68 to finish tied for fifth individually at 2-under 214. Hannah Kim tied for eighth at 215.

Illinois will not be in the 24-team field at Rich Harvest after tying for 11th in its regional in Albuquerque, N.M.

Rich Harvest also will host the men’s championships May 26-31. The Illinois and Northwestern men will look to advance out of regionals next week.

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