KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
SUNRISE BEACH, Mo. – As anyone who has every played the game will tell you, playing in the rain is no fun but when a championship is on the line, it is even less enjoyable. The wet, soggy, cool weather brought an appropriate end to the 2012-2013 Indiana State women's golf season as they finished sixth at the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Women's Golf Championship.
There was a bright spot amidst all the dreariness of the weather as senior Christina Beyerl finished in a tie for 13th and junior McCall Christopher tied for 18th in the individual competition.
“This was a fitting end to a brutal spring,” Greg Towne, Indiana State women's golf coach, said. “I am very proud of our seniors and the way they have represented our school.”
Illinois State captured their 13th MVC championship and fifth in the past six seasons as the Redbirds recorded the low round of the third round at 327. Illinois State opened the final round in fifth but steadily moved up to finish with a 977 total. Wichita State, who had the team lead after the first two rounds, finished second at 980 with Southern Illinois and Bradley tying for third with 982 totals.
Missouri State was fifth (984) with Indiana State sixth (1008), Northern Iowa and Creighton tied for seventh (1038), Evansville finished ninth (1044), and Drake 10th (1049).
Beyerl saved her best finish in the MVC Championship for her final appearance of her career. The senior started the final round tied for fifth and stayed in the top 10 for most of the third round before finishing in a tie for 13th. Beyerl opened with a 78 on Sunday, fired an 80 on Monday and posted an 89 Tuesday for a 247 total. Her previous best finish was a tie for 21st in the 2010 Championship.
Christopher was consistent in each of her rounds during the tournament, posting an 84 Sunday before carding back-to-back 83s on Monday and Tuesday to finish with a 250 total and tied for 18th. The junior will have another shot at an MVC title in 2014.
Sophomore Amanda Smith opened the tournament with a pair of 83s on Sunday and Monday, shooting an 85 in Tuesday's final round to finish with a 251 total and tying for 21st. Smith finished 35th in her first MVC Championship a year ago.
A pair of seniors rounded out the Sycamore effort with Reece Feducia placing 33 with rounds of 85, 87 and 88 for a 260 total while Emily Dixon tied for 37th with rounds of 85, 89 and 93 for a 267 total.
Illinois State's Katie Jean was the medalist for the second straight year as she captured the individual championship with a 233 total. She is the sixth player in MVC history to win medalist honors twice. Bradley's Danielle Lemek and Wichita State's Bryce Schroeder tied for second at 238 with Creighton's Celeste Gassman fourth at 239.
Bradley coach Mary Swanson was named the coach of the year marking the first time in 10 seasons that a coach from the non-winning team has won the award.
Jean was also named Golfer of the Year and winner of the Elite 18 Award. Lemek was named the Newcomer of the Year.
ALL-CONFERENCE
Katie Jean, Illinois State
Danielle Lemek, Bradley
Emma Clegg, Missouri State
Megan Thompson, Missouri State
Cassie Rushing, Southern Illinois
Bryce Schroeder, Wichita State
Celeste Gassman, Creighton
Shaina Rennegarbe, Southern Illinois
Alex Zenor, UNI
Ariel Tidwell, Missouri State
Elite 18 Award Winner – Katie Jean, Illinois State
Medalist – Katie Jean, Illinois State
Newcomer of the Year – Danielle Lemek, Bradley
Golfer of the Year – Katie Jean, Illinois State
Coach of the Year – Mary Swanson, Bradley
