March 9, 2007
Final Stats
RIO VERDE, Ariz. -
In her first tournament since breaking her ankle in September, freshman Laura Harris shot a season-low round of 74 to finish in a tie for 11th individually, five shots off the lead, to pace the Illinois State women's golf team after day one Friday at the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational in Rio Verde, Ariz.
The Redbirds completed the first round as a team in a tie for 13th place with Minnesota after shooting 310. ISU is seven shots off from being in the field's top five.
"Laura (Harris) shot a great opening round," associate head coach Pina Gentile said. "I'm extremely proud of the way she has come back from her injury. She has such a positive attitude out on the course and has worked extremely hard."
Harris, whose previous season-low round was 80, sits in an eight-way tie for 11th and trails the field's leaders Alison Martin of Baylor and Arkansas-Little Rock's Anita Ojeda, who each fired a 69 on the first day.
Senior Hilary Anderson and freshman Stacey Miller are both four shots off their fellow Redbird teammate with a first-day score of 78 and are tied for 43rd. Freshman Britt Knutson, who carded a first-round score of 80, is tied for 70th. Sophomore Tiffany Hockensmith finished day one tied for 85th after shooting 82. Rounding out the day for the `Birds, was freshman Christine Larson, who tallied a score of 84, placing her in a tie for 93rd.
Baylor leads the 18-team field after shooting 289 in its opening round, nine shots ahead of Toledo and Arkansas-Little Rock, who each carded a score of 298. Rounding out the top five with scores of 300 and 303, respectively, was Texas Tech and Eastern Michigan.
"I saw a lot of positives from our team today," Gentile said. "Our women did a really good job of overcoming a slow start. We are definitely looking to be stronger early on tomorrow and to improve our scores and our position in the standings."
The three-day event continues on Saturday at the Rio Verde Country Club's Quail Run course with the second round of action. The Redbirds' tee time is scheduled for 9 a.m.
