COLUMBIA, Mo. – A second consecutive day of rising through the leaderboard, the Illinois State women's golf team closed play at the Johnie Imes Invitational in a tie of eighth place overall, as Avalon Woodward finished inside of the top-15 individually.
The Redbirds carded a team score of 299, the fifth time in six total rounds that the program has had a team score under 300, and Woodward's 218 is the 14th-lowest tournament score in program history – and her third-lowest individual tournament score. The team's tournament score of 896 is the 11th-best team tournament score for ISU in program history.
Lipscomb took the team title with a three-round 860, while tournament host Missouri was the team runner-up with an 862. Florida International (870), Oral Roberts (871), and Morehead State (874) rounded out the top five in the field. Eastern Kentucky (889), Howard (893) both finished ahead of the Redbirds, as Missouri State played to an even tournament score as the 'Birds. Drake (899), Northern Illinois (906), Omaha (908), and Creighton (922) rounded out the 13 schools in the field.
Every Redbird had at least two birdies during the round, including five during the final 18 holes by Vinisha Gunaseelan, three by Ali Schrock and Jinyoung Yun, and two by Dani Grace Schrock and Woodward.
Woodward was steady throughout her round, as she had 14 pars on the day in addition to two birdies and two over-par scores. She had a slow start with a double bogey on her second hole; however, answered with a birdie immediately after. After six pars she added her second bogey and closed her tournament with seven pars and a birdie down the stretch to finish with the one-over 73 and tied for 14th in the tournament.
Gunaseelan used her five birdies on the round to counter her seven bogeys, in addition to six pars on the day to finish with the two-over 74, which propelled her to a tie for 49th overall in the tournament.
Finishing three over par, Yun had a trio of birdies on her round, with five over-par scores and 10 pars, finishing with the three-over 75 and tied for 22nd overall in the tournament field.
Ali Schrock's five-over 77 consisted of three birdies and nine pars and ended tied for 46th of the 73 golfers. Dani Grace Schrock had eight pars and two birdies, ending her tournament with a seven-over 79 final round, as she placed 63rd.
ISU will travel to the Coyote Creek Classic on Saturday, October 7 and Sunday, October 8 at the Coyote Creek Classic, hosted by Bradley at the Coyote Creek Golf Course in Bartonville, Illinois.
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