Samantha Richdale fired a 77 today in the second round of the Missouri Valley Conference women's golf championship in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to stretch her lead to 3 strokes over Creighton's Elizabeth Morell, and stay on top of the championship individual leaderboard.
Richdale's two-day score of 151 (74-77) led the Redbirds as they also maintained their second place standing after round two. The 'Birds two-round total of 646 puts them ten strokes behind Bradley, who jumped to first place from yesterday's third place spot. Southern, which led the tournament by one stroke over Illinois State on Monday, dropped after today's second round to second place, tying with the Redbirds at 646.
Illinois State head coach
Ray Kralis is confident that his team will come out and make their move Tuesday.
Im know that we have the firepower to go out and make a move tomorrow, Kralis said. Were not writing this thing off by any means. There is still a lot of golf to play.
Our attitude and focus will be right for tomorrow, continued Kralis. We will go out and give it our best and hopefully take home the Valley tournament title.
Other Illinois State finishers were Katie Laehn, who sits in a tie for 14th after shooting an 86 today, for a two-round total of 165. Ashlie Rose turned in an 83, for a 166 total and a tie for 18th place. Next was Ashlee Johnson, who carded an 84 in today's round to tie for the 25th spot with a two-day total of 169. Albiona Zhubi sits in 36th place after shooting an 88, for a total of 174, and Kaila Fuller, finished in 40th place after compiling a total of 176 after carding a 96 in round two.
In team competition, Bradley commands the championship, with Illinois State and Southern tied for second. Northern Iowa is in fourth with a team score of 646, followed by SMS and Creighton who are tied with a 657 two-round total. Wichita State falls in at 7th, after carding a 340 today for a 663 total and Evansville rounds out the eight team field of competition with a 670.
The Valley championship concludes on Tuesday with 18 holes, beginning at 9 a.m. on the par 72, 6,000-yard layout at Beaver Hills Country Club in Cedar Falls, Iowa. At the conclusion of the tournament, the All-Tournament Team will be announced as well as the Valley Coach of the Year Award.
