RIO VERDE, Ariz. – After a record-setting opening spring weekend, the Illinois State women's golf team takes back to the course, traveling to Rio Verde, Arizona, to compete in the 2023 Rio Verde Invitational, hosted by Western Michigan University.
Event:Â 2023 Rio Verde Invitational
When: Friday, February 24 - Sunday, February 26
Where:Â Rio Verde Country Club // Rio Verde, Arizona
Par:Â 72
Yardage: 6,044
Live Scoring:Â Golf Genius
Participants (Golfstat Team Collegiate Rankings): Kennesaw State (65), Xavier (69), Cal Baptist (139), Missouri State (144), Illinois State (157), South Dakota (160), Central Michigan (171), Oakland (174), Wichita State (177), Butler (186), Loyola (191), Western Michigan (192), Bowling Green (196), Bradley (198), Akron (201), Eastern Michigan (212), Ball State (220), Ohio (224)
Redbird Lineup: Avalon Woodward, Ali Schrock, Dani Grace Schrock, Kira Wolf, Michaela Kverkova
Last Time Out: The Illinois State women's golf squad re-wrote the record book in the final round of the 2022 Falcon Florida Classic, setting school records for team single-round scores, team tournament scores, individual tournament score, and tied the record for single-round individual score. Illinois State set the single-round record with a final-round 284, topping the previous record of 286 on the same course two years earlier. The team's three-round 870 is six strokes better than the previous ISU low mark, which was set at the Mid-American Challenge, hosted at the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club in 2021. Avalon Woodward set a new ISU tournament record with a three-round 211 – three strokes better than the school record of 214 set by Samantha Richdale in September of 2005, while her final-round 68 puts her in a three-way tie for the lowest single-round in school history alongside Rachel Powers from September of 2012 and Ali Schrock at the Johnie Imes Invitational earlier this season.
Redbird History at the Rio Verde Invitational: This season is the 12th time that Illinois State has competed in the event, with last season's fourth-place finish marking just the second time that the Redbirds had finished inside of the top-10, and the team's 54-hole score of 898 is the lowest of the 12 previous times the team has participated in the event.
2021-22: 4th of 18 (300 - 301 - 297 -- 898 (+34))
2019-20: 12th of 18 (316 - 310 - 299 -- 925 (+61))
2018-19: t-12th of 18 (303 - 313 -- 616 (+48))
2017-18: 15th of 17 (331 - 310 - 319 -- 960 (+96))
2016-17: 15th of 19 (317 - 302 - 303 -- 922 (+58))
2015-16: 17th of 18 (307 - 305 - 316 -- 928 (+64))
2014-15: 15th of 18 (307 - 322 - 311 -- 940 (+76))
2013-14: 18th of 18 (315 - 327 - 323 -- 965 (+113))
2007-08: t-9th of 18 (300 - 310 - 308 -- 918 (+62))
2006-07: t-11th of 18 (310 - 311 - 303 -- 924 (+60))
2005-06: t-11th of 18 (310 - 311 - 303 -- 924 (+60))
About the Course:Â Rio Verde features two traditional-style courses with a soft desert look. They are Midwestern in style with a lot more grass than one would imagine in a desert setting. When Tom Lehman led the $6 million course renovation project in 2007, he achieved his vision of creating two uniquely distinct courses, giving members a never-ending variety of golf experiences. Quail Run has all the elements of a traditional golf course, and White Wing plays more as a links style course. Common to both courses are meticulously groomed fairways, greens loaded with personality, and outstanding mountain views.
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