RICHMOND, Ky. – Rising four spots from the second round, the Illinois State women's golf team finished as the runner-up at the 2023 Colonel Classic, hosted by Eastern Kentucky University. Newcomer Michaela Kverkova tied for the individual runner-up spot, one stroke away from the medalist honor.
ISU's final-round 294 was the lowest of any of the teams in the tournament on the second day, as the team gained eight strokes on second round leader Austin Peay, almost enough to cover the 10-stroke difference at the beginning of the day. The Redbirds finished with a three-round 889 – the fifth-lowest team score in program history, behind only Austin Peay's 887.
Georgia State (890), Dayton (890), North Alabama (895), Eastern Kentucky (901), Morehead State (903), Butler (905), Bradley (906), Belmont (910), Bellarmine (913), Akron (914), Marshall (922), Cleveland State (924), Ball State (926), and Ohio (930) round out the 16 schools in the field.
Kverkova's final round of 71 was tied for the lowest on the day, and her two over 218 for the three rounds is tied for the 13th-lowest 54-hole tournament score in program history. Starting on the third hole, Kverkova got off to a rocky start with two pars, a birdie and two bogeys to sit at a stroke over par through the first five holes of the final day. She finished strong with a pair of birdies – on the 12th and 13th holes – to add to 11 pars to finish the round a stroke under par.
Avalon Woodward climbed eight places on the final day behind a one-over 73, as she placed 11th individually with a three-round 221. She started her day with seven straight pars before carding three pars, two birdies and two bogeys over her next seven holes to remain at even par. After two more pars she ended her round with a bogey and a par to finish with the final-round 73.
Over her final round, Kira Wolf climbed 24 spots into a tie of 55th, using a one-over 73 on the round to finish with a three-round 231. She was at or under par for 13 of the 18 holes on the round, and after starting on the fifth hole had birdies on the sixth, 13th, and third holes, in addition to 11 pars for the 73.
Dani Grace Schrock shot a final-round 77 as she had a pair of birdies and 10 pars for her final-round 77 to tie for 32nd, while Ali Schrock's final-round 78 saw three birdies and nine pars to finish in a tie for 44th with a three-round 229.
The tournament was ISU's final tournament before traveling to Waterloo, Illinois, to defend their crown at the MVC Championship, hosted this season at Annbriar Golf Course.
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