NEWTON, Kan. – Senior Kiley Walsh fired an impressive even par 72 (32-40) in Tuesday's third and final round of the Missouri Valley Conference Preview, earning her a tie for second place on the individual leaderboard at the par-72, 7,200-yard Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton, Kansas.
After playing her first eight holes at 4-over-par, Walsh finished her last 10 holes at an incredible 5-under-par. Walsh strung together four straight birdies from holes 18 through 3, helping her to produce the lowest individual score of the final round. The senior registered five birdies in her final round, with four of them occurring on her remarkable 4-under-par 32 back nine (front nine of the Sand Creek Station Golf Course). She finished the event with an 8-over-par 224 (80-72-72).
Illinois State ended its fall season with a final-round score of 314 on Tuesday, to finish in eighth place with a three-round score of 938 (318-306-314). Host Wichita State won the preview with a 907 (304-294-309), edging out Northern Iowa in a playoff hole.
Junior Caitlin Sims registered a 5-over-par 77 (38-39) over the final 18 holes to finish with a 236 (81-78-77). Sims played her last 15 holes at a solid 2-over-par.
Finishing one stroke behind Sims over the three rounds was freshman Tatum King with a 237 (79-76-82). King shot an 82 (40-42) in the final round, producing one birdie on the first hole on the front nine.
Senior Abby Luchtenburg recorded her second-consecutive round at 83 (40-43) in the final round. Luchtenburg finished the event with a 244 (78-83-83). Sophomore Morgan Savage also recorded an 83 (42-41) in the final round, concluding the event at 248 (85-80-83).
Sophomore Paige Seiser led the individuals who competed for the Redbirds with her best score of the event with a 5-over-par 77 (37-40) in the final round to finish at 238 (81-80-77). Junior Leia Atas finished her third round with an 82 (39-43), concluding her tournament at 244 (82-80-82). Freshman Maria Jose Rojas finished her second collegiate tournament with a 259 (89-80-90), carding a 90 (43-47) in the final round.
"The good news is that we saw a lot of the golf course this week. The bad news is that we saw way too much of the golf course this week," said head coach Darby Sligh. "We struggled in the wind today. It's been a tough run for us this fall. We have some time in the off season to really get after some skill work and mental training to turn everything around. Kiley (Walsh) battled back and ended up in second place and I couldn't be more proud of the way she handled her game despite the conditions."
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The Redbirds will not return to action until the start of the spring season.
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