The Illinois State womens golf team will conclude its fall season Oct. 13-14 in Manhattan, Kan. at the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invite. Kansas State is hosting the invite, which will be held at the par 72, 6,151-yard Colbert Hills Golf Course.
The Redbirds, ranked No. 57 in the country, have been playing against some of the top teams in the Central Region all season and head coach
Ray Kralis feels the team is heading in the right direction.
We are finally starting to realize that we can compete with the top ranked teams in the region, Kralis said. Weve learned to be efficient and value the impact of a single shot.
Sophomore Samantha Richdale has led the team all season and has claimed two Valley Golfer of the Week honors. Her teammates have also given her plenty of support. The team set a new school record for low 18-hole round as well as placing themselves in the top five all-time for 36 and 54-hole hole scores.
Kralis feels the success of the fall has built a confidence in the team it will need come spring.
We have a certain cockiness about us now, Kralis said. We have to be able to take that attitude out of the Valley and use it to our advantage against the top ranked teams.
The Birds begin their spring season Feb. 29-Mar. 2 at the Lady Moc Invite hosted by Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Fla.
