Final Results | Final Results (PDF)
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Illinois State women's golf team saved its best for last Tuesday in the team's final round of the season, as the Redbirds carded a season-low 299 in the third and final round of the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Women's Golf Championship at the par-72, 6,214-yard Dalhousie Golf Club.
Junior Kiley Walsh carded a 1-over-par 73 (35-38) in the final round to finish in fourth place on the individual leaderboard with an 8-over-par 224 (75-76-73), which earned her All-MVC accolades. The 224 was also Walsh's lowest three-round total of the season. She carded a 1-under-par 35 over the first nine holes, with two birdies, and shot a 2-over-38 on the back, with two more birdies.
Illinois State's score in the final round was the second lowest of the final 18 holes in the 10-team field. The Redbirds finished in fourth place with a three-round score of 945 (317-329-299), two strokes behind Bradley for third place. Missouri State ran away from the field to win the championship with a 913 (302-314-297), 20 strokes less than second-place Wichita State. With their victory, the Bears clinched a spot to next month's NCAA Championship.
"What an incredible day," head coach Darby Sligh said. "After the struggle of yesterday, this was one of the most memorable days of my coaching career, shooting our low round of the year when we needed it the most. It was an almost perfectly executed plan start to finish. Sure, we made a few mistakes, but overall, everyone battled all the way through."
Freshman Paige Seiser also shot a 1-over-par 73 (36-37) in the final round to finish with a 236 (82-81-73), which was good enough for a 15th-place tie. She recorded one birdie on the front nine, shooting an even-par 36, before knocking down two more birdie putts on the back nine for a 1-over-par 37.
Sophomore Caitlin Sims cracked the top 20 by shooting a 239 (81-84-74). She tallied a 2-over-par 74 (38-36), which included an even-par 36 on the back nine, and a total of four birdies, with two occurring on each side.
Seniors Renee Solberg and Maggie Ambrose played their final rounds as Redbirds Tuesday. Solberg shot an 81 (40-41) in the final round to finish with a 248, while Ambrose shot a 79 (38-41), which included a 2-over-par 38 and one birdie on the front nine. Her score rounded out the team scoring for Illinois State in the final round.
"Kiley (Walsh), Paige (Seiser) and Caitlin (Sims) secured this comeback for us with all three finishing in the top 20," Sligh said. "Kiley's finish earned her all-conference and well deserved. The future is so bright for this program."
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