NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's golf team's 2014-15 schedule has been finalized, as announced Thursday by head coach Darby Sligh. The Redbirds will play five tournaments in the fall, building up to six tournaments in the competitive spring season.
Sligh sees the schedule as an excellent opportunity to prepare and gain momentum throughout the entire year.
"We have another great run of tournaments this year that allows us to compete against some of the best teams in the country and most certainly in our region," Sligh said. "We have the opportunity to come out strong at home and carry momentum into the next four events in the fall, which will be a huge determinant of our ranking leading up to the spring. The spring tournaments are heavily weighted in March, which allows us additional time to prepare. We did not have that luxury this past fall, and we need to capitalize."
To begin the season, the Redbirds will host the Redbird Invitational (Sept. 7-8) at the Weibring Golf Club in Normal, Illinois, before hitting the road for the remaining four tournaments. ISU will travel to Simpsonville, Kentucky, for the Cardinal Cup (Sept. 15-16) followed by a trip to Wolcott, Colorado, the following week to participate in the Golfweek Challenge (Sept. 22-24). The 'Birds will represent the MVC for the second-consecutive year at the event hosted by Golfweek.
ISU will maintain its busy schedule by traveling to Columbia, Missouri, for the Johnie Imes Invitational (Sept. 29-30) a week later. Wrapping up its fall schedule at Noblesville, Indiana, Illinois State will compete in the Hoosier Fall Invitational (Oct. 17-19).
After three months out of competition, the Redbirds will once again kick off the spring schedule against a familiar rival, as they head to Venice, Florida, to take on Illinois in the Illinois Challenge (Feb. 1) at the Venice Golf and Country Club. After another brief break, ISU will be back on the road as it heads to Kiawah Island, South Carolina, to compete in the Kiawah Island Invitational (March 1-3). Next up, ISU will travel to Rio Verde, Arizona, where the team will participate in the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational (March 13-15).
Then, the Redbirds will return to Florida for the Shootout at Shingle Creek (March 20-22) hosted by Cincinnati. Wrapping up the busy month of March for ISU is the UALR/ASU Invitational (March 30-31) in Maumelle, Arkansas. Illinois State will complete the spring season at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship (April 19-21) in Burlington, Iowa, for a chance to take the conference title and qualify for postseason play.
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