April 17, 2006
WICHITA, Kan. -
Defending their title, the Illinois State women's golf team jumped all around the team leader board for the first two rounds of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship, but ended day one in first place with a collective team score of 607 (303,304). Although the 2006 MVC Golf Poll picked the Redbirds to tie for No. 2 with Missouri State, they continue to have No. 1 in mind and hold the lead from No. 1 pick Bradley by only one stroke.
Head coach Ray Kralis felt the `Birds put up a solid day with their efforts.
"It is great to see such a strong team effort at this stage," said Kralis. "The team effort we had today was really needed because all of the teams are still really bunched up and are right in there fighting for first place. This is always a tight tournament so we are going to need everybody."
With two of the five Redbirds in the top-10 and two others in the top half, the `Birds worked as a team. Freshman Marci Hill and junior Olivia Campos, both had career low rounds in the 70s for the first round of the tournament. In 36th place, Hill shot 79 in round one and 82 in round two for a two-round total of 161. Campos shot a career low 77 in round one and 81 in round two to tie for 23 with 158. Senior Samantha Richdale, looking to win a fourth-straight all-conference honor, leads the Redbirds and is tied for fourth place with 150 (78,72). Freshman Kaitlin Troop, appearing at her first ever collegiate conference tournament, is tied for sixth place with 151 (76,75). Senior Ashlie Rose, fourth place finisher in the Valley Tournament last year, sits tied for 12th place with 154 (76,78).
Kralis appreciates the scoring his team did as a whole.
"All six round-one scores in the 70s was great to see today," said Kralis. "Marci and Olivia having career tournament lows in the first round of conference was a great thing to see from a coaching standpoint. We had different people stand up in the afternoon and gave great rounds. "
Illinois State continues to look for a three-peat at the State Farm MVC Championship, but will have to give it their all with such a close leader board. The Braves trail the `Birds by only one stroke with 608 (300,308). Third place is held by Wichita State with 611 (303,308) and Southern Illinois is in fourth place with 612 (305,307). Missouri State was originally picked in the poll to tie with ISU for second, but currently sit in fifth with 614 (311,303). Northern Iowa is in sixth place with 618 (310,308). Evansville is in seventh with 645 and Creighton is in eighth with 651.
Kralis knows that day one is not the end of the tournament and expects his team to continue to work as a team.
"It is going to take 54 good holes of golf to win this tournament," said Kralis. "Sitting in the lead right now is a good place to be. We will go in tomorrow with a strong six who saw some good things on the course today. We look forward to a strong team effort tomorrow. The winds are supposed to be tough so the experience from our preparation back home will help with that. We look forward to an exciting day tomorrow."
The final round will begin at 8 a.m., on Tuesday, April 18 at the Reflection Ridge Golf Club in Wichita, Kan.
