The Illinois State womens golf team roared back from a ten-stroke deficit to squash a second-round Bradley rally and tie the Braves in the final round of the Missouri Valley Conference womens golf championship in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The final round was bittersweet, however, when the Redbirds took second to Bradley after a one-hole playoff decided the champion.
Led by freshman Samantha Richdale, the Birds fired a 307 in todays final round to tie Bradley with a three-round 953. The two teams were forced to a team playoff where Bradleys Meaghan LeBlanc hit the decisive putt on the No. 1 playoff hole, to lift Bradley to the title. Illinois State was subsequently awarded second-place honors.
Richdale never surrendered the lead throughout the tourney, and earned medalist honors after firing a three-round score of 229. She carded a 78 in todays final round to better the rest of the field by four strokes. Along with taking home medalist honors, Richdale was awarded a spot on the All-Conference Team, along with teammate Ashlee Johnson.
Redbird head coach
Ray Kralis was excited about Richdales performance.
I am certainly happy for Samantha, Kralis said. What a great way to cap off a great season here at Illinois State, to lead the conference in scoring and to then come back it up with a wire to wire win... Im just really proud of her.
Ashlie Rose also had an incredible day for the Birds, carding a tournament-low 73 in the third round to help ISU inch up the leaderboard toward Bradley and their ten-stroke lead. Rose finished in a tie for 8th place with a 239 three-round total. Other Illinois State finishers include Katie Laehn, who finished in 12th place individually after turning in a 78 today, and a 243 tourney total. Johnson tied for the 26th-place spot with an 83 today and a 252 three-round total. Kaila Fuller came back from yesterdays 96 to shoot a 78 in the final round and tie for 31st place, with a 243 tourney total. Rounding out the squad was Albiona Zhubi who fired an 81 today for a 255 total, tying for 34th place individually.
Northern Iowa finished in third place as a team behind Bradley and Illinois State, after turning in a 966 tourney total. Southern Illinois fell from Sundays first-place position to finish fourth with a 973. SMS carded a 984 to take fifth, while Creighton combined for a three-round 992. Wichita State finished in seventh with a 993, and Evansville rounded out the eight-team field with a 997.
For the first time in his three-year career as the head coach of the Redbirds, Illinois States Kralis was named the Valley Coach of the Year, as voted by league coaches.
Kralis was certainly proud of the way his team participated in the Valley Championship.
They fought hard and played like champions, said Kralis. Unfortunately yesterdays round was the killer blow. We just dug ourselves a little bit too big of a hole to climb out of.
But were leaving with a second place trophy, Kralis continued. And were leaving with our heads held high.
