April 17, 2007
Results
PEORIA, Ill. -
Freshman Stacey Miller tied for 10th individually after she fired a 231 (76, 79, 76) and helped lead the Illinois State women's golf team to a fourth-place finish at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship at WeaverRidge Golf Club in Peoria, Ill.
Assistant coach Pina Gentile was very impressed by Miller's play and acknowledged her contribution to the team's score.
"As a freshman coming in she has played great golf for us all year," said Gentile. "She was always able to provide key scores for us and help support low rounds for the team. Her play throughout the year and at the tournament has been phenomenal.
"For her to go into the tournament and have three rounds in the 70s is great. She has exceeded our expectations both on the course and in the classroom. I look forward to what her future holds as she continues to improve."
The `Birds maintained the fourth-place position throughout the tournament after shooting 948 (317, 323, 308).
Senior Hilary Anderson (80, 81, 76) and sophomore Tiffany Hockensmith (78, 80, 79) tallied a total of 237 and tied for 20th. Freshman Laura Harris shot 244 (83, 83, 78) and finished tied for 28th. Freshman Britt Knutson fired 247 (85, 84, 78) and placed 36th, while sophomore Marci Hill tallied a 249 (86, 83, 80) and tied for 39th.
Gentile was pleased with the team's performance and feels it was a good way to end to the season.
"The goal was to go out there and play significantly better than we have the last two days," said Gentile. "It was great to end the season on a high note with so many of the newcomers providing the supporting scores."
Additionally, with Anderson leaving, Gentile noted the impact she has had on the team throughout her career.
"Hilary has been a phenomenal player for us throughout her four years," said Gentile. "She didn't score as well as she would have liked in her first two rounds, but for her to come back with a 76 today was a great way for her to end her career. I thought it was great for her to be there to support and lead us one last time."
Southern Illinois clinched first after firing the lowest tournament round Tuesday for a total of 899 (306, 303, 290). Bradley notched a second-place finish (907), while Missouri State took third (912). Northern Iowa (953) came in behind ISU for fifth and Wichita State (955) ended in sixth. Rounding out the field, Evansville (958) finished in seventh, Indiana State (968) took eighth, Drake (980) ninth and Creighton (989) ended in 10th.
At the conclusion of the tournament 10 players were named to the 2007 All-Conference Team, including ISU Redbird Hockensmith. The top six tournament finishers are automatically named to the team along with four other players that are evaluated on their season play.
"The support Tiffany was able to provide the team throughout the whole season has been great," said Gentile. "I know that she didn't play as well as she would have liked in this particular tournament, but I was impressed by how she was able to hang in there and turn things around."
With a young roster Gentile looks forward to what the future holds.
"I think our future is very bright," said Gentile. "It will be exciting to see how the Redbirds continue to develop and progress."
