The Illinois State womens golf team posted a final round 309, its lowest of the tournament, and shot a three round total of 937 to take home the 2004 Missouri Valley Conference Womens Golf Championship in Carbondale, Ill. The Redbirds edged host Southern Illinois (938) in exciting fashion by one stroke to collect their first win of the season.
Samantha Richdale once again led the team and finished in a tie for first with a 228 (77,75,76). Richdale shared medalist honors with Kelly Gerlach of Southern Illinois. This is Richdales second consecutive medalist honor in the Valley Tournament. Richdale and Gerlach battled each other throughout the final day and their play ultimately decided the team championship. A Gerlach bogey on 18 and a Richdale par enabled the Birds to hang-on to the overall lead and bring home the title.
All Illinois State team members finished the tournament in the top 25. Hilary Anderson (81,80,77) and Katie Laehn (78,81,79) both fired 238 and tied for 12th place. Ashlie Rose tied for 17th with a 240 (81,82,77) and Chelsea Bach tied for 19th with a 242 (77,82,83). Albiona Zhubi, the lone senior on the team, took home 22nd place overall at 243 (79,81,83).
Head coach
Ray Kralis said the team effort during the tournament was outstanding and is proud of how his team handled itself.
It was a great team effort all the way through, Kralis said. Today was a dogfight and it was not settled until that last put fell. Ive highlighted all year the importance of one shot and how it is important to stay focused the entire way. I knew I had the players to get this done and I couldnt be more proud of how they handled everything.
Southern Illinois hung around until the very end on their home course, only to come up just short and finish in second place. Bradley (942) finished five strokes back in third, followed by Northern Iowa, SMS, Wichita State, Creighton and Evansville.
Kralis did not want to let the chance of playing at home in the NCAA Regional Championship slip away on the final day.
With the regional bid on the line and the opportunity to play on our home course, we faced a lot of pressure, Kralis said. We were able to hang on and I can not say enough about how this team has come together throughout the year. Today, with the pressure on us, to put up our low round of the tournament and post four scores in the 70s says so much about the character of this team.
This is the first Valley Championship for women's golf since 1997. Illinois State now has 116 team titles since joining the Missouri Valley Conference in 1982.
With the win, the team qualifies to play in the 2004 NCAA Central Golf Regional hosted by Illinois State at University Golf Course in Normal, Ill. May 6-8.
