Oct. 2, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -- After a week off, Illinois State women's golf team will be competing at the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational in Lawrence, Kan., on Oct. 2-3.
Head coach Ray Kralis feels that there have been a lot of positives that show the team is headed in the right direction.
"The first two tournaments have allowed us to see who we are and who we can be," Kralis said.
The Redbirds' line-up will consist of seniors Hilary Anderson and Olivia Campos, sophomore Tiffany Hockensmith and freshmen Britt Knutson and Stacey Miller.
Kralis is proud of the attitude the team has shown this season.
"They haven't missed a beat in terms of where this program is and where it is going," Kralis said.
The 16-team field will play at the par-72 Alvamar Golf Club. Illinois State will be joining five other Missouri Valley Conference teams: Creighton, Drake, Evansville, Indiana State and Wichita State. Other competition includes Arkansas-Little Rock, Iowa State, Kansas State, Missouri, North Texas, Notre Dame, Southern Mississippi, Missouri-Kansas City and Wisconsin.
The `Birds are looking forward to competing against five other Valley teams.
"Even though we have a lot of new faces, this group expects good things to happen and expects to dominate the Valley," Kralis said.
Kralis feels the team needs to continue what they have been doing so far by remaining focused on the tournament ahead.
"We have done a great job with our attitudes and staying in the moment rather than getting caught up in the outcome," Kralis said. "If we continue to do that the outcomes will come together."
The tournament will begin Monday, Oct. 2 with a shotgun start at 8 a.m., with teams competing on the first 36 holes. The final round will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 8:30 a.m.
