STATESBORO, Ga. – The Illinois State Redbirds were at the top of the field through the first 18 holes on a wet course at the 2021 Strutter Gus Invitational, as the second round was halted due to darkness.
The Redbirds carded a first-round score of 310, ahead of UNCG in second place with 311. Jacksonville State (312), Seminole State-Florida (313), Georgia Southern (317), Georgia State (317), High Point (323), Winthrop (323), Gardner-Webb (328), Murray State (329), Appalachian State (330), and Marshall (332) rounded out the 12 teams in the field after the first 18 holes.
The dozen schools are into the back nine of their second round and will continue play tomorrow morning.
Through 12 holes in the second round the Redbirds have dropped to third place in the field with the entire group of Redbirds standing six holes away from the close of the second round.
Leading the way for Illinois State was Emma Sutton who strung together four birdies in a six-hole span and ended the first round tied for first place with a three-over 75. Becca Black ended the opening round a stroke behind with a four-over75, tied individually for fifth place. Ali Schrock's seven-over 79 has her tied for 14th place, with Avalon Woodard carding an eight-over 80, tied for 23rd. In fifth for the Redbirds was Emma Rouger who finished the first 18 holes with a nine-over 81, while Paige Seiser – playing as an individual – finished 11 strokes over par with an 83.
Sutton opened her round on the third hole, and opened with a par and two bogeys, standing two shots over par before she started a fierce run with birdies on her fourth, fifth, and sixth holes, had two more pars before another birdie on her ninth hole dropped her score to two strokes under par halfway through her round. She closed her opening round with five pars on her back nine, finishing at three strokes over par.
Black started her day with a bogey and double bogey before turning the corner with two pars and a birdie to drop her aggregate score to a pair of strokes over par. A bogey and birdie on back-to-back holes kept her at two strokes over pars as she had five pars over the following nine holes; however, she closed strong with back-to-back birdies to end her round with a four-over 76.
Schrock began her round with a double-bogey but rebounded well with four pars and a birdie over the next five holes to put her at a stroke over par through six total holes on the day, as she added a birdie and four pars over her final 12 holes of the day, closing the round seven strokes over par for the day.
Redbird freshman Woodward opened her round with a bogey before five straight pars kept her at a stroke over par through six total holes. After five straight holes above par, she answered with five consecutive pars and closed her round at eight strokes over par with an 80.
The fifth golfer for ISU was sophomore Rouger – the reigning MVC Golfer of the Week – who closed her opening round of the tournament with a birdie and eight pars, finishing with a nine-over 81 on the opening 18 holes.
Playing as an individual, Seiser finished the 18 holes with eight pars, carding an 11-over 83 over the first round of the tournament.
The Redbirds close out the second round tomorrow morning before rolling through for the third and final round of the tournament.
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