Oct. 1, 2007
Manhattan, Kan. -
The Illinois State women's golf team has been a model of consistency so far in its fall season, and even after a rough opening round at the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational, the Redbirds are looking to finish near the top of the field following a first day team total of 615 (313, 302).
"The wind was really gusting during our practice round on Sunday so we were not able to get a good feel for the course," said head coach Darby Sligh. "This is a very challenging course and I think it took our girls most the first round to really see how the course would play. I thought we played extremely well in the second round and we have a very good chance heading into tomorrow."
The Redbirds were led on day one by sophomore Stacey Miller who fired a two-round-total of 149 (73, 76) en route to ending the day in a seventh place tie. True freshman Terra Miller also recorded a pair of rounds in the 70's and shot a two-round-total of 155 (79, 76).
"Stacey and Terra both played great," said Sligh. "It was impressive to see Stacey play so well on such a challenging course and to see a true freshman like Terra produce the way she has as a freshman is very positive."
Junior co-captain Tiffany Hockensmith finished just one shot behind Terra Miller after recording a two-round-total of 156 (80, 76). Fellow junior co-captain Marci Hill (89, 74) and sophomore Britt Knutson (81, 82) each fired a two-round-total of 163.
Kansas leads the event after a two-round-total of 600 (302, 298). Missouri is two strokes behind the Jayhawks after a two-round-team-total of 602 (303, 299). The individual event is led by Missouri sophomore Julia Porter who had a day one total of 143 (70, 73).
The final round of the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational begins Tuesday, Oct. 2 with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.