LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Illinois State women's golf team sits in a tie for 13th place Friday after the opening round of Kentucky's Bettie Lou Invitational the par-72, 6,221-yard University Club of Kentucky golf course in Lexington, Kentucky. The 16-team field is led by Notre Dame, who produced a 284, four strokes ahead of second-place Kentucky.
Senior Kiley Walsh shot a first round score of a 3-over-par 75 (36-39) to lead the Redbirds. Walsh collected one birdie on the first hole on the front nine. She sits in a tie for 29th place on the individual leaderboard.
Freshman Tatum King and junior Caitlin Sims both had a first round score of a 6-over-par 78. King began her first nine with a 2-over-par 38 and then recorded a 4-over-par 40 on the second nine. King produced one birdie in the first round. Sims carded a 6-over-par 42 on her first nine holes, then battled back by firing an even par 36 on her second nine. She birdied two par 4's on her second nine holes.
Senior Abby Luchtenburg finished the day with a 7-over-par 79 (40-39). Luchtenburg produced an impressive eagle on the par-4, 326-yard hole 9. Sophomore Morgan Savage shot an 80 (38-42), but her score did not count towards the team's total. Savage battled back on her second nine holes by carding one birdie.
On the individual leaderboard, there is a three-way tie for first place. Kentucky's Ale Walker and Grace Rose, and Toledo's Pimchanok Kawil recorded an opening of round of 3-under-par 69.
"We keep making strides as a unit to improve on the little things," head coach Darby Sligh said. "We are making better decisions as a whole and executing far more often than the start of the season. Tomorrow is another 36 hole weather situation where we are tired from this double event week, we must keep focused and not try and do too much at once. This course is very demanding so patience will be a huge part of our plan. Everyone must find a way to contribute for us to climb up the leaderboard."
With the forecast of bad weather looming on Sunday, Saturday's format has been changed to 36 holes. Teams will tee off Saturday for the second round at 7:30 a.m. CT with a shotgun start. The final round will immediately follow the second round on Saturday.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
