Samantha Richdale and Ashlie Rose shared the low-scoring honors for the Illinois State womens golf team, both shooting scores of 238 to lead the Redbirds to a fourth place finish at the Lady Razorback Invitational in Rogers, Arkansas.
Richdale carded a score of 78 in the final round for a three-round total of 238 and a atwelvth-place finish at the tournament. Rose turned in her lowest score yet this season, a 75, to tie Richdale at 238 and share the twelvth-place spot.
ISU head coach
Ray Kralis was especially impressed by Roses performance.
Ashlie stepped up and played really well for us today, Kralis said. She shot her lowest round so far this year. We always knew she was capable of these types of scores, she just needs to keep it up.
The Redbirds finished the tournament tied for fourth place among the 14 competing teams. After the first two rounds of play the team was positioned in sixth place. But after Tuesdays final team score of 313, the team found themselves just two strokes off of third place. The University of Arkansas turned in a score of 937, finishing in first place overall. Medalist honors went to Leah Hart of Augusta State, with a score of 226.
Other Redbird finishers were Ashlee Johnson who shot a 243 to tie for 22nd place, Albiona Zhubi finished tied for 30th place with a 249 and Katie Laehn who carded a 250, placing her in 32nd place overall.
The team effort was much appreciated by Kralis.
In the final two rounds the ladies played with the leaders, said Kralis. We dug a big hole for ourselves on Monday but I think the team responded well and combined for ateam effort.
Holding on to their undefeated Valley conference record of 6-0, the teamtravels to Wichita, Kansas next week for the Marilyn Smith Sunflower Invitational, the final tournament for the fall season.
Kralis hopes the teams fourth-place finish will be a positive force going into their final competition of the year.
Hopefully this is the momentum we need going into next week, Kralis said. We have turned it around and we are now headed in the right direction.
