ST. LOUIS - Illinois State women's golfer Brianna Cooper was named Missouri Valley Conference Golfer of the Week Wednesday, as announced by the league office. This is Cooper's second time receiving the honor, she also won the honor as a sophomore.
Cooper earned the honor when she won individual medalist honors Monday at the Redbird Invitational and led the Illinois State women's golf team to a first place finish with a team score of 910 (307-304-299). It was the second time in Cooper's career that she won individual medalist honors at the Redbird Invitational.
After the first two rounds of competition Sunday, Cooper sat in second place with a 75 in the first round, before improving in the second round, where she shot a 1-under-par 71. Cooper was the only Redbird to shoot under par during the first two rounds and ended the day with a 146 (75-71). In the final round, Cooper used two birdies to shoot par (72) to put her in first place with a total score of 218 (75-71-72). The senior won the individual title by six strokes with sunny and calm weather conditions.
At the end of the tournament, Butler (306-311-305) and Northern Illinois (308-296-318) tied for second place with a team score 922. Ball State (925) and Ohio (926) weren't too far behind coming in fourth and fifth, respectively. Not only did Illinois State top the field of 16, but it also defeated their Missouri Valley Conference rivals Bradley (939), Drake (955), Evansville (979) and Loyola (948).
Cooper and the Redbirds will be back in action September 15-16 in Simpsonville, Kentucky, at the Cardinal Cup.
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