WATERLOO, Ill. – A Saturday evening string severe storm not only doused Annbriar Golf Course with a copious amount of rain, but it also brought in temperatures that reached as high as upper 40's with strong winds, and the scores around the field at the 2023 MVC Championship showed as much, as the Illinois State Redbirds stand tied for fifth in the 12-team field at the championship.
The Redbirds' 325 trails only Missouri State (315), Northern Iowa (320), Belmont (322), and Southern Illinois (323), and are tied with Murray State with a 325. Evansville (328), Drake (329), Indiana State (330), Bradley (332), Valparaiso (342), and UIC (348) round out the dozen MVC schools.
Kira Wolf is the team's individual leader after the first 18 holes, as her 79 is tied for the ninth-lowest score in the tournament field. Defending All-MVC honoree Avalon Woodward is tied for 15th with an eight-over 80, including three birdies, which is tied for the most by an individual in the opening round. Dani Grace Schrock's nine-over 81 has her tied for 22nd, while Ali Schrock carded an 85 and is tied for 37th for the team's fourth and final scoring player in the round. Michaela Kverkova finished with an 86 and is tied for 42nd.
In the first groupings off the tee box on the day, all five Redbirds recorded a par on the opening hole – the only school in the field to be bogey free on the first hole – however, the scoring was rocky for the 'Birds from there on. Two Redbirds – Woodward and Kverkova – birdied the par five fifth hole, while Dani Grace Schrock added another birdie on the par four 12th hole. Woodward got hot late in the day with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th holes and was the only player in the field on the day with birdies in two consecutive holes.
The Redbirds return to action tomorrow afternoon and will tee off at 10:20 a.m. alongside Southern Illinois and Murray State for the second of three days at the yearly championship.
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