The Illinois State womens golf team will close out its regular season April 17-19 at the 2005 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship. The Redbirds enter this tournament as the 2004 champions, and have been selected to win again this year in the pre-Valley poll. They return to the Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield, Mo., in hopes of another championship.
The Birds enter this tournament with a veteran squad, five of the six competitors finished in the top 25 last year. Defending co-champion Samantha Richdale, Katie Laehn, Chelsea Bach, Ashlie Rose, Hilary Anderson, and Sarah Loomis comprise the Redbird line-up this year.
Head coach
Ray Kralis feels that the Birds have played some great rounds this season and feels confident with the group competing.
We have had our ups and downs this season, but overall we have played some great rounds as a team and I am confident heading into this tournament, Kralis said. I feel good about the group going into this tournament, they all have the experience and know what it takes in order to be successful.
All eight Valley schools will be competing, including Bradley, Creighton, Evansville, UNI, Southern Illinois, SMS and Wichita State. In the course of the three days the Redbirds will play a total of 54 holes, playing 18 each day. The winner of the Valley tournament earns an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship.
Kralis feels the Redbirds must play one shot at a time and not get caught up with any external influences.
One of our biggest challenges was making regionals from a ranking standpoint, however that wasnt exactly what happened. Now we are focused on making it through the Valley championship, Kralis added. We just need to go out there and play one shot at a time and not be concerned with what is going on around us. The course suits us well and we are comfortable with the layout as a team.
The opening round of the 2005 State Farm MVC Championship will tee off on Sunday April 17, and continues through the 19th.
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