ISU womens golfer Samantha Richdale took the Missouri Valley Conference by storm as a freshman and continues to do so this season.
Richdale, a native of Kelowna, British Columbia, stood out as the leader for the Redbirds during the 2002-03 season and it seems that nothing has changed.
Richdale has already been named the Missouri Valley Conference Golfer of the Week in two straight weeks this season, once for her performance in the Redbird Fall Golf Classic, the other for her finish at the Chip-N-Club Invitational in Lincoln, Neb. She shot a 218 total on the par 71 and claimed second place overall individually at the Classic. Richdale finished fourth individually at the Chip-N-Club, while the team took fourth. The Redbirds remain undefeated in their conference.
Richdale says that both she and her team are striving to meet goals they have made for the season.
As far as team goals for the season, we want to go to regionals based on our rankings instead of just winning the Missouri Valley Conference, Richdale said. My personal goal for this year is to win regionals and go to the NCAA, both individually and as a team.
After the first two tournaments of the year, Golf World ranked Richdale No. 82 in the country. She was excited about being nationally recognized but wants to continue to climb the rankings.
I think my ranking has improved since last year, but Im still not satisfied, Richdale said. I want to be ranked in the top 50. That is one of my goals this year.
Last year Richdale proved herself as a fierce competitor when she won the Redbird Classic by six strokes and secured ISUs team victory. That was her first collegiate tournament win. Last year Richdale finished first in two events, including the Valley Championships. She led the Birds with a 77.44 stroke average and finished in the top 15 six times.
Her accomplishments speak for themselves and that is why she was named the Missouri Valley Conference Golfer of the Week four times as a freshman.
Over the summer Richdale received the Helen Cushman Endowed Scholarship. Each year the Helen CushmanEndowment is awarded to the womens golf team member who has shown academic excellence, golf expertise, and a dedication to the game. Richdale said she was honored to receive the scholarship.
It felt good to be recognized for all the hard work I did last year because I put a lot of effort into my golf game and grades, Richdale said.
Richdale is majoring in Chemistry and wants to be a pharmacist after college if golf does not pan out.
Hopefully I can play on the pro tour, Richdale said. If that doesnt work out I want to move back to British Columbia and be a pharmacist.
Richdale is looking forward to playing at the Shootout at the Legends in Franklin, Ind. She feels that it will test the team and herself.
I am pretty excited about the upcoming tournament in Indiana, Richdale said. Its has a lot of the top schools competing in it and they are all teams that have beaten us by a small margin. We want to beat those teams and show them that we can compete at their level.
Written by Jolene Harrison, Student Assistant, Athletics Media Relations
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