NEWTON, Kan. – The Illinois State women's golf team battled cold and windy weather conditions in the opening round Sunday of the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Championship at the par-72, 6,018-yard Sand Creek Station Golf Course. The Redbirds sit in sixth-place with a score of 319. The tournament is led by Missouri State, who produced a 305, four strokes ahead of second-place Indiana State.
Junior Caitlin Sims led the Redbirds over the first 18 holes with a score of 6-over-par 78 (38-40). Sims sits in a tie for 13th place on the individual leaderboard. One stroke behind Sims was sophomore Paige Seiser, who fired a 7-over-par 79 (38-41). The sophomore produced two birdies on the front nine and is a 20th place tie.
Seniors Kiley Walsh and Abby Luchtenburg rounded out the scoring for the Redbirds in the opening round. Walsh carded an 80 (39-41). Walsh birdied one hole on the front nine. Luchtenburg tallied an 82 (41-41), producing one birdie on the back nine. Sophomore Morgan Savage shot a 92 (43-49), which resulted in her score not counting towards the team's total.
"Today was a brutal day in the wind and cold and it really forced us to battle," said head coach Darby Sligh. "We wish we had been able to save a few shots in the middle of our round, but I am pleased with the way we were able to button it up on the final holes to move up a few spots. It's anybody's ball game at this point. Tomorrow will require the absolute best out of us to get into contention."
The second round of the MVC Championship is scheduled to start Monday with tee times beginning at 10:30 a.m.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
