BARTONVILLE, Ill. – In what has turned into a two-team battle for the team champion of the 2023 Coyote Creek Classic, the Illinois State Redbirds stand in second place, just three strokes behind first-day leader Bradley, as ISU has six golfers inside of the top-10 of the field.
The Redbirds have a two-round 599 (297-302), just behind Bradley's 596 (297-299), with Fort Wayne sitting a distant third place with a 621 (313-308). Green Bay (634), Northern Iowa (642), Western Illinois (648), Evansville (562), and Chicago State (666) round out the eight schools in the field.
Jinyoung Yun leads the way for the Redbirds through the first 36 holes, as she finished with a two-over 146 after the opening two rounds, including a one-under 71 to close the day. Her opening time through the course she had four birdies to go along with nine pars and five over-par scores to finish with a three-over 75, before returning around the course with six birdies and seven pars, and heads into the final round in second place overall in the tournament field.
Playing as an individual, Vinisha Gunaseelan is in sixth place after rounds of 73 and 76. Starting the day on the 17th hole on the course, she opened with two pars and then followed with a nine-hole stretch where she had five birdies, two pars, and two bogeys. She was at three under par until the end of the round, as she closed with four bogeys to send herself into the second round with a one-over 73. Her second round had two more birdies to go along with 11 pars and five over-par scores.
Three Redbirds – Avalon Woodward, Dani Grace Schrock, and Ali Schrock – are tied for seventh in the tournament with matching 150's.
Woodward had rounds of 73 and 77 on the day, opening with two birdies, three bogeys and 13 pars over her opening 18 holes, and came back with a birdie and 11 pars over her final 18 holes of the day to finish with the five-over 77.
Sophomore Dani Grace Schrock's two-round 150 (73-77) saw her record a one-over 73 for her first 18 holes with tree birdies, 12 pars and four bogeys. Her second round opened with five pars and a birdie, standing one under per; however, over her final 12 holes had one more birdie, five pars and six over-par scores for the five-over 77.
Playing as another Illinois State individual, Ali Schrock was steady with rounds of 76 and 74, including a first round where she had two birdies and a dozen pars for a first-round 76. Her second round saw her card a 74 to end the long opening day with two more birdies and 13 pars.
Kira Wolf, behind rounds of 76 and 77 is in a two-way tie for 10th place after 36 holes, and she had five birdies to go with five pars to finish with an opening-round 76. Her second round she added three more birdies along with nine pars for the 77. Michaela Kverkova rounded out the ISU golfers in the field on the day, as she had an opening-round 86 while improving seven strokes between her first and second round, ending with a 79 and is tied for 33rd with her final round ahead tomorrow.
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