The Illinois State womens golf team heads to its first spring tournament ranked 53rd in the nation. They travel to Bryan, Texas to compete in the Mo Morial Invitational, beginning Monday Feb. 28. The Birds are heading into this tournament with a solid line-up, each golfer has experience playing against some of the top teams in the nation. Competing for the Redbirds are seniors Katie Laehn and Kaila Fuller and juniors Samantha Richdale and Ashlie Rose, while the fifth competitor remains undecided. Assistant coach Pina Gentile will lead the Redbirds for the first time as a coach, while head coach Ray Kralis is with the mens team in San Antonio, Texas. Gentile is excited to lead the Birds and feels they are well prepared. I am very excited to have the opportunity to coach these girls, said Gentile. They have worked hard all winter and they are going in well prepared and with positive attitudes. The field consists of 15 teams, including some nationally rank teams #26 Southern Methodist, #27 Kent State, #44 Baylor, #45 Northwestern, #49 Texas A&M and #50 Texas Christian. Kralis is anxious for this tournament because his team is going in with nothing to lose and the chance to make a statement. We are heading into this tournament with nothing to lose. There is not a bad team in this field so it is going to be a shootout for the finish, added Kralis. We are well prepared and the girls are ready to get out and play. The team will play 36 holes on Monday, beginning at 8 a.m. and will finish up with 18 holes on Tuesday. ###
