April 16, 2007
Results
PEORIA, Ill. - After two days of competition, freshman Stacey Miller leads the Illinois State women's golf team with a score of 155 (76, 79) and currently sits in a tie for seventh place at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship in Peoria, Ill., at WeaverRidge Golf Club.
The `Birds maintained the fourth-place spot after shooting 640 (317, 323).
Assistant coach Pina Gentile acknowledged that the team hit the ball well, but still feels there is room to improve tomorrow.
"Overall I would say our score does not reflect how we played," said Gentile. "Once again, we had a couple of holes that got us."
Sophomore Tiffany Hockensmith tallied a two day total of 158 (78, 80) and tied for 16th, while senior Hilary Anderson shot 161 (80, 81) and finished the day in 22nd. Freshman Laura Harris is tied for 32nd after she fired a consistent 166 (83, 83). Sophomore Marci Hill (86, 83) and freshman Britt Knutson (85, 84) both sit in a tie for 43rd with a score of 169.
Gentile is proud of the way the team has competed not only at the tournament, but throughout the season.
"I feel like these young ladies started out the fall season on a very positive note for a young group," said Gentile. "They were playing some great golf at the beginning of the year and I thought we got off to a pretty good start this spring. I would love for them to finish on a positive note and have everyone come in with a good round tomorrow."
Southern Illinois maintained the lead after firing 609 (306, 303). Bradley slid into second-place after the team tallied 612 (316, 296) and shot the lowest team round of the tournament thus far. Missouri State moved into third with a 618 (309, 309), followed by ISU. Northern Iowa (325, 320) and Evansville (319, 326) currently sit in a tie for fifth. Rounding out the tournament roster, Indiana State (649) finished seventh, Drake (650) eighth, Wichita State (654) ninth and Creighton (669) 10th.
Gentile was pleased overall with the team's performance and feels that each event prepares the team for future tournaments.
"You are always trying to get a little bit better the each time," said Gentile. "Every time we are out there, whether our team score goes up or down, we growing as players and as a team."
The 10-team field will compete in the final round of the tournament beginning at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.
