NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State newcomer Jinyoung Yun set a program single-round record in her opening tournament as a Redbird – and the 'Birds tied a program record for lowest team score at a tournament – as ISU is alone atop the field after 36 holes at the 2023 Redbird Invitational.
Yun's opening-round 67 broke the previous school record of 68 held by three different golfers, including two of her current teammates. Rachel Powers originally set the record at the Cardinal Cup on September 17, 2012, and it was tied by Ali Schrock at the Johnie Imes Invitational on September 27, 2022 and tied again by Avalon Woodward at the Falcon Florida Classic last spring on February 7.
The team single-round scoring record of 284 tied the previous mark set last season at the Falcon Florida Classic in the final round.
Illinois State has a one stroke lead over Bradley with 36-hole scores of 577 and 578. South Dakota State – who set a tournament record for lowest single-round score in the first round – filing in at third place with a 582. Northern Illinois (586), St. Thomas (590), defending tournament champion Butler (592), South Dakota (594), Northern Iowa (603), Drake (608), Bowling Green (609), IUPUI (610), Illinois Wesleyan (612), Indiana State (612), Evansville (627), Eastern Illinois (642), and Valparaiso (646) round out the 16 schools in the field.
The Redbirds return to action for the third and final round on Monday morning at 8:30 a.m.
Leading the way for ISU was Yun, who used seven birdies – including three in a row on the second, third, and fourth holes – alongside eight pars to finish with the five-under 67 for the new program mark for lowest round. She came in the second round and was one shot over par at the turn before closing strong with three birdies in her last six holes to close her day with a two-under 70, for a two-round 137, just three strokes off the individual lead.
Michaela Kverkova was steady over her two rounds on the opening day of the tournament with rounds of 71 and 74 for a one-over 145. She had six birdies and eight pars over her first round, a one-under 71, before coming back with four more birdies and 10 pars for a two-over 74, as she is tied for seventh individually with 18 holes to play.
Dani Grace Schrock opened her day with an even-par 72 where she had three birdies and a dozen pars. She came back in the second round with 14 pars and a birdie, carding a three-over 75, and is tied for 13th with a round remaining in the tournament.
Playing as an individual, Avalon Woodward opened her day with a two-under 70 where she had five birdies and 11 pars for her first under-par round of the season. She had a birdie and 10 pars on the back half of her day, finishing with a seven-over 79 and her two-round 149 has her tied for 24th in the tournament field.
Ali Schrock improved her score in each of the two rounds, opening with a five-over 77 with three birdies and eight pars, before finishing two over on her second time around the course with three birdies and 11 pars, and is tied for 34th entering the final day of the tournament.
Playing in her first tournament since last October because of injury, Vinisha Gunaseelan used rounds of 74 and 78 to see her eight-over 152 to stand tied for 42nd, as she had five birdies on her day.
Kira Wolf had rounds of 74 and 81 for a two-round 155 (+11) while Reagan Kennedy – in her first collegiate event – had rounds of 81 and 78 for a 159, as the pair are tied for 58th and 72nd, respectively.
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