Illinois State womens golf coach
Ray Kralis and sophomore Samantha Richdale saw first hand what it takes to get to the NCAA Womens Golf Championship.
Both spent a week in Opelika, Ala., at the Grand National Lake Course, where Richdale finished the four-round tournament Friday with an overall score of plus 11. Two weeks ago, the team came within a few strokes of making the trip together. With the season now complete, Kralis will look to get the entire Redbird squad to the national stage in 2005.
We were so close in making it as a team this year, meaning we cant sit back and relax, Kralis said. This summer is going to be critical. We have to continue to get better because if were not careful and we rest on our laurels, theres always that possibility of digression.
Richdale was in agreement with her coach.
This tournament really showed me what I need to work on, Richdale said. My swing is so close and if I work hard over the summer, I know it will improve. I have to keep working hard so that my swing doesnt fall back to what it was.
As for the tournament, Kralis was proud of Richdales perseverance even when she faced adversity.
It was really a treat for me to watch Samantha play, Kralis said. She definitely deserves to play and compete at this level. She kept battling the entire week and didnt give up.
Unlike the previous three rounds, Richdale started the fourth day on the back nine, where she bogied the first two holes, but hit for par on six of the last seven. Richdale sat at plus 5 after 16, but battled back on the last two holes, hitting for birdie on the par-3, 168-yard eighth, and the par-4, 345-yard ninth. She finished the fourth round at plus 3.
Kralis felt that the two birdies at the end were an indication of Richdales attitude throughout the entire week.
The two birdies showed that she wasnt willing to give up, he said. I think as a sophomore, she learned a lot from this experience. There was no quit in her.
Kralis also felt that Richdale making it to the national level in only her second year of collegiate golf was a significant achievement as well.
This just fuels her fire, Kralis said. I know shes eager to continue to make herself better and get back here next year.
NOTE: For results on the web, including live scoring, go to: www.golfstatresults.com
