KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, IND. ? The Indiana State women's golf team is looking for its best ever finish in the Missouri Valley Conference Women's Golf Championship when they begin competition Sunday at Rolling Hills Country Club in Newburgh, Ind.
“This week's tournament should be a great Missouri Valley Conference Championship,” Mike Whitson, Indiana State golf coach, said. “The depth and talent in the conference is better than it has ever been. The golf course is fantastic and all that adds up to a wonderful tournament that will be played Sunday through Tuesday.”
This will be the fourth year that the Sycamores will compete in the MVC Championship with last year's sixth place finish their highest ever. This will also be the fourth straight tournament for Indiana State's Breanne Smith and Mackenzie Mack with Astrid Parsson playing in her second MVC Championship. They will be joined by Emily Dixon and Christina Beyerl who will play in their first MVC Championship.
Smith ranks fourth in the conference in stroke average at 76.55 and recorded her first bogey-free round last Sunday in the third round of the Indiana Invitational while shooting a four-under 68. Her highest finish in the MVC Championship was a tie for sixth in the 2007 tournament. She finished in a tie for eighth last year and earned her second All-Conference recognition.
The Sycamores have won two tournaments during the spring campaign including the Ann Rhoads Southern Shootout and the Saluki Invitational. Smith became ISU's first ever individual champion by winning at the NIU Snowbird Shootout.
Illinois State is seeking their third straight MVC Championship this year which would equal Tulsa's mark of three-straight titles from 1994-1996. They will face stiff competition from Missouri State and Drake with Wichita State, Indiana State, and Bradley also expected to be in the hunt. Drake's Olivia Lansing is the top individual in the Valley this year with a 74.38 stroke average.
The teams will get in a practice round on Saturday with the first round of competition on Sunday. The final two rounds will be played on Monday and Tuesday.
Live scoring will be available at www.golfstat.com
