NORMAL, Ill. - The Western Illinois women's golf team finished up play in the annual Illinois State Redbird Invitational on Sunday (Sept. 9). The Leathernecks finished the three-round tournament in 12th place with an overall score of 969.
The two-day event was hosted by Illinois State University and held in Normal, Illinois. The University of Toledo placed first in the tournament, with a three-round total of 915.
Ashley Jeffers would lead the way for the Leathernecks with a three-round total of 239 (78-81-80). The sophomore would finish the tournament tied for 31st place.
Just behind Jeffers was junior Kristi Tschudin who tied for 35th place. Tschudin finished the tournament with a total of 240 (79-84-77). Her best round of the tournament came on the final day, a team best 77.
Senior Emily Brink finished the tournament with a three-round total of 243 (79,81,83). She would finish the tournament tied for 41st place.
Rounding out individual play for the Purple & Gold was Jessica Knepp, Alexa Arent and Kelsea Visalli. Knepp finished tied for 53rd place with a 247 (82,79,86), Arent finished in 85th place with a total of 270 (91,86,93) and Visalli would finish in 78th place with a three-round total of 260 (84-93-83).
"It was a tough start to the weekend with the practice round rainout" said head coach Lia Biehl Lukkarinen, "Overall we have some short game work to do, as well as eliminating that one bad hole per round...A few shots here and there and we would have finished much higher. We had quite a few birdies which I was pleased with, so we'll just have to work on not giving them back and our overall play should improve".
Western next action will be on September 22-23 when they travel to Muncie, Indiana to compete in the Ball State Invitational.
