2012 Redbird Invitational
NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State women's golf team starts the 2012-13 season by looking to defend its title at the Redbird Invitational at the Weibring Golf Club Saturday and Sunday. The home tournament will be a shotgun start both days with a tee time at 8:30 a.m., featuring 54 holes. Two rounds are set for Saturday (36 holes) and one for Sunday (18 holes).
Head coach Darby Sligh believes that starting the season with a home tournament is a considerable advantage. "As a team, there's nothing better than to start each year out on our home turf. We have put in so much time and effort into our preseason, and it's time to watch our hard work pay off," explained Coach Sligh. "This needs to be a complete team effort in order to defend this title and there's no reason any one person in the line-up can't step up and lead us."
Illinois State will be host to Akron, Ball State, Bradley, Bowling Green State, Drake, Eastern Kentucky, Evansville, Illinois Wesleyan, Oakland, Ohio, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, Toledo and Western Illinois.
The Redbirds competing in the tournament include senior Katie Jean, juniors Carlee Cossell, Rachel Powers and Jordyn Wyzgowski, along with sophomore Hayley Guyton. Freshman Courtnee Cossell will be competing as an individual.
Led by Jean's 2-under-par (70) performance, Illinois State was able to overcome an eight-stroke deficit and secure first place in the final day of the invitational last season with a team-best score of 917. Illinois State has won the Redbird Invitational four out of the last five times it has been hosted in Normal Il (2002, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011). ISU looks to make it four-consecutive Redbird Invitational victories this weekend.
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