Feb. 16, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
Eager to compete after a four-month break from tournaments, the Illinois State women's golf team is headed to Parrish, Fla. for the Central District Invitational hosted by Michigan State. Rated as one of Florida's Top 50 courses by Florida Golfer Magazine, the par 72 River Wilderness Country Club Course marks the spot for a shotgun start of the first 36 holes at 8 a.m. on Monday, February 20th.
Head coach Ray Kralis is looking forward to the tournament ahead as a continuance from the fall season.
"We are jumping right into the heat of our spring season," said Kralis. "Even though it will be our first event, we're going to pick up right where we left off in terms of our caliber events."
Fired up to face the 14-team field for Illinois State are seniors Ashlie Rose and Samantha Richdale, juniors Hilary Anderson and Chelsea Bach and freshman Kaitlin Troop. With four of the five `Birds being upperclassmen and Troop competing in all five tournaments in the fall, Kralis is pleased with the experienced squad heading into this tournament.
"I like the group we have going," said Kralis. "This group has played against great competition on the national level and has a lot of confidence. It is the same group that has come off the course breaking records in the fall, and that will be huge in making this a tournament where we're just picking up where we left off, rather then starting over. We try to foster that mindset with the preparation we do on an indoor and outdoor basis, to go in feeling like we haven't missed a beat, but at the same time it's going to be a field that, if you are missing some beats, it's going to show up on the scoreboard."
Part of an elite field, by invitation only, this competition is for the top teams in the Central region. Currently ranked 17th the Redbirds will be facing 14 teams ranked in the top 25. Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Louisiana State, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, SMU and Texas Tech make up the elite field.
Kralis feels this is a great opportunity for the `Birds to make a statement.
"This tournament gives us the opportunity to move up and secure our spot in the rankings," said Kralis. "There are teams behind us who are looking to move up as well. In the big picture we can't get caught up with who's in the rankings. We have to go and play the game of golf. The field is a motivating factor in terms of preparation, and one that we get fired up for in the schedule, but when it comes down to the competition, it comes down to playing one shot at a time and doing our best."
