NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State women's golf team will compete in its first road tournament of the 2014-15 season, when it travels to Simpsonville, Kentucky, to compete in the Cardinal Cup, hosted by Louisville Monday and Tuesday. The 54-hole tournament at the University of Louisville Golf Club will consist of two rounds of play Monday (36 holes), followed by the final round Tuesday (18 holes). The course is 6,223 yards with par set at 72. Both Monday and Tuesday's rounds will begin at 8:30 a.m., with a shotgun start.
Last week, Illinois State finished first at the Redbird Invitational (Sept. 7-8), while senior Brianna Cooper took the top spot on the individual leaderboard.
Head coach Darby Sligh knows the course has worked for them before, and she is hoping to see it happen again.
"This is a crazy stretch of our fall season having four events in a row," Sligh said. "We have a lot of momentum coming off a big win at home, and we are trying to carry that through this week. This golf course has set up well for us in the past, with us nearly breaking the school record, shooting 287 the first round last year. It will take the entire squad to come through for another win. We are exactly where we want to be at this point in the season."
Cooper will lead the Redbird lineup, as she won individual medalist honors after the Redbird Invitational. Cooper finished the Redbird Invitational last weekend with a score of 218 (75-71-72), giving her the top spot on the leaderboard. For her efforts at the Redbird Invitational, Cooper was named the Missouri Valley Conference Golfer of the Week for the second time in her career.
Also competing for the Redbirds in the Cardinal Cup is Abby Luchtenburg, Kiley Walsh, Lauren English, and Hayley Guyton. Maggie Ambrose will compete as an individual during the tournament.
Illinois State will be up against Akron, Ball State, Bradley, Cincinnati, Chattanooga, Georgia State, James Madison, Kennesaw State, Louisville Black, Louisville Red, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Murray State, Northern Illinois, Richmond and Tennessee Tech.
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