NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's golf team opened its 2015 season with a loss to in-state rival Illinois with a score of 8-4 at the Illinois Challenge on the par-72, 6,180-yard Venice Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida, Sunday.
With the loss, head coach Darby Sligh is still enthusiastic about the season.
"We fought so hard and came short against a very strong Illinois squad" Sligh said. "This format requires you to be at your best from the top of the roster to the bottom, and despite the loss, we had some great match-ups. We had three matches go into darkness and we pulled out 2.5 points from them. We will need that kind of resilience the rest of the season. All in all, this was a great day of pre-season preparation for our entire team."
The challenge consisted of four-ball partner matches in the morning followed by individual matches in the afternoon.
Senior Hayley Guyton and freshman partner Kiley Walsh were the only players to secure points for the Redbirds during the morning's four-ball match play event by tying their Illini opponents and gaining a half point. Guyton also secured a half point in her individual match, while Walsh won her individual match on the last hole. Sophomore Renee Solberg and senior Brianna Cooper secured the final points for the Redbirds each winning their individual matches on the last hole.
Seniors Courtnee Cossell and Lauren English, sophomore Maggie Ambrose and freshman Abby Luchtenburg all fell in their individual matches.
The Redbirds will be back in action on March 1, when they travel to Kiawah Island, South Carolina, to compete in the Kiawah Island Invitational.
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