NORMAL, Ill. – Redbirds kick-off the fall season with newcomers Becca Black and Emma Sutton at the annual Redbird Invitational at Weibring Golf Club this Sunday. The 2018-2019 Women's Golf team is made up of eight competitive golfers eager to get out on the course this weekend.
Becca Black is a junior from Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Before transferring to Illinois State this fall, Black competed at UNC Asheville for two years. She was one of three players to compete in all 10 events during her rookie season and recorded a team-leading 79.04 scoring average over 27 rounds. During her sophomore season, Black was named Big South Golfer of the Week on Feb. 9, 2018 and finished with a 78.95 scoring average.
Sophomore Emma Sutton is from Adelaide, South Australia and is a transfer from Towson University. Sutton appeared in five tournaments during her freshman season and finished with an average score of 81.5 with a career low of 74. Her top finish was 24th place at the Navy Spring Invitational. Sutton lead Towson University to its first-place win at its home, season opener where she finished 29th.Â
Event: Redbird Invitational (hosted by Illinois State)
When: Sunday, Sept. 9-Monday, Sept. 10
Where: Weibring Golf Club
Par: 72
Yardage: 6,002
Live Scoring: Birdiefire Live Results
Format: Two 18-hole rounds on Sunday with shotgun start and continuous play, one 18-hole round on Monday with shotgun start.
Competing Teams: Akron, Western Illinois, Ohio University, Ball State University, Bowling Green State, Northern Iowa, Bradley University, Butler, Northern Illinois University, Drake, Eastern Kentucky, Evansville, Illinois Wesleyan and Loyola University.
History at the Event: Illinois State is hosting its 53rd annual Redbird Invite at Weibring Golf Club. This tournament was absent from the Redbirds' schedule for six years starting in 2005, and returned for the 2010 season. Since 2000, the Redbirds have placed in the top six each season and finished in first five times, most recently in 2014.
About the Course: In 1962, golf course architect Robert Bruce Harris designed the Weibring Golf Club. The course included a nine-hole regulation length course around the edge of the course and an executive length nine-hole course in the middle. During the 2000 season, ISU alumnus and PGA Champions Tour Player D.A. Weibring restored the 40-year-old course by installing a state of the art irrigation system, rebuilding all 18 greens, two practice greens and reconstructing the bunkers to manage drainage and control erosion. To honor DA and his countless contributions to the Illinois State Men's and Women's Golf Teams, the course was renamed to Weibring Golf Club in 2007. The 6,915 yard, par 72 golf course hosts 28,000 rounds per year and more than 100 tournaments and outings.
Next Time Out: The Redbirds return to action next week when the team travels to Muncie, Indiana, to compete at the Cardinal Classic at the Players Club.
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