Albiona Zhubi and Katie Laehn showed real initiative shooting 81, tied for 12th, after the first day of the Saluki Invitational. The Illinois State womens golf team placed fourth, not far behind Missouri Valley Conference competitors Bradley (1st) and host Southern (2nd).
We played a good round considering the howling winds and dropping temperatures we were up against, said coach
Ray Kralis. If we have a good day of golf tomorrow, we will maintain our place if not slide into third. We are shooting better then last year in which we placed eighth.
Saluki Invitational veteran Zhubi played a solid game knocking off four strokes from last spring. Zhubi and Laehn are only five strokes off the tourney leader Kelly Dillon from Bradley. Veteran Jill Rachford shot an excellent front nine (37), but struggled on the back. Rachford and Ashlee Johnson are tied for 22nd with a score of 83.
The second day of play at the Hickory Ridge Golf Course is set for Monday.
