The Illinois State womens golf team will compete in the 2005 NCAA West Regional at New Mexico State University Golf Course May 5-7. The Redbirds earned the chance to play in the tournament in Las Cruces, N.M. as the Missouri Valley Conferences automatic qualifier.
The Birds enter this tournament with a veteran squad, all five of the participants competed in the 2004 NCAA Central Regional at Illinois States University Golf Course. In the 2004 Regional the Redbirds missed making finals by three stokes, finishing tied for ninth place. Samantha Richdale, Katie Laehn, Ashlie Rose, Chelsea Bach, and Hilary Anderson comprise the line-up for the Redbirds.
Head coach
Ray Kralis feels by having a veteran line-up, and with last years finish, the Redbirds will be motivated to contend in this tourney.
We have the same line-up for the 2005 tournament as we had in the Central Regional last year. They are a group of proven performers who are always ready to compete. Their experience in the 2004 tournament was invaluable, and has helped prepare them as we head to New Mexico, Kralis said. With missing the finals by three strokes and one spot, that has been a motivating factor this year, and the team is looking forward to the opportunity to compete in New Mexico.
The NCAA Committee seeded 15 teams nationally and sent five to each of the three regionals. Of the 21 teams competing are nationally ranked 2004 defending national champion UCLA (#3), Georgia (#2), Oklahoma State (#8), Tennessee (#11), Southern California (#16), Arizona (#18), Stanford (#19), California (#23), and Washington State (#25),
Also joining the Redbirds in New Mexico are Oregon, San Francisco, UC-Irvine, UNLV, Brigham Young, Colorado State, Portland State, Northwestern, Oral Roberts, Georgia State, and Denver.
Kralis believes his veteran team is ready to compete with the loaded field.
I feel that momentum is on our side. The second half of the season has been great. We have been playing some great golf, and I am looking forward to more great golf, Kralis added. All of the regional fields are very competitive, but this group of girls has proven they can compete with the best and that is what they intend to do.
First round action of the begins Thursday, May 5 and continues through Saturday, May 7, with 18-holes of championship play each day. Of the 21 teams and three individuals playing, eight teams and the top two individuals from non-qualifying teams advance to the NCAA Finals with the East and West Regional qualifiers in Sunriver, Oregon on May 17-20.
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