KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Sycamore women's golf team will be competing in their second tournament of the spring season this weekend as they will join several other teams at the Saluki Invitational hosted by Southern Illinois University. Indiana State has competed in the SIU event six times but did not play in last season's event.
The 36-hole tournament will be played Sunday and Monday at Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Carbondale, Ill.
“We lost Marissa (Uradomo) for a couple of weeks due to an appendectomy and other complications,” Greg Towne, Indiana State women's golf coach, said. “She is recovering well and looks to be back in time for our home event and the conference championship.”
The absence of Uradomo may hurt the Sycamore chances of claiming the team title but it is an opportunity for others to step up as Towne develops his MVC Championship roster.
“It is a great chance for the other members to get a chance to play and earn a spot on the roster,” Towne said. “There is some expediency needed to get it all together before the conference tournament. The combination of weather, illness and loss of tournament dates is rushing us to the finish here.”
Indiana State did not play in their first scheduled tournament of the spring season as that tournament was moved up two days and played as a one-day tournament due to inclement weather.
“It was wonderful of Alexis Mihelich at SIU to let us get in her tournament at the last second and it looks like the weather will cooperate for them for the first time in a few years,” Towne said. “We have visited as a team on this and the kids realize that deadlines and adversity will happen in their life after college. This is a huge opportunity for each of them to grow.”
Scheduled to compete for Indiana State are McCall Christopher, Amanda Smith, Erinn Sutton, Gina Della Camera, and Megan Berube. One more will be selected to compete based on a qualifier that Towne will hold Friday afternoon.
Indiana State is coming off the first tournament of the spring season when they competed in the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate on the Highlands Course in Sevierville, Tenn. Sycamore freshman Marissa Uradomo captured the tournament championship with back-to-back 74s and a 148 total as she became just the second Sycamore to win a tournament title in the history of the program. Indiana State finished in a tie for third with Marshall University at 631.
The Sycamores have an average finish of sixth at the Saluki Invitational but did win the tournament in 2010 with a 617 total as Indiana State placed four inside the top 10. Breanne Smith tied for second at 153 with Mackenzie Mack tying for fourth at 154, and Christina Beyerl and Astrid Parsson tied for sixth at 155 to lead the championship run.
Indiana State's last appearance in the tournament came in 2012 when they finished sixth as a team with a 641 total. Emily Dixon led the Sycamores by tying for 10th at 156 while Christian Beyerl tied for 19th (158), and Gina Della Camera and Amanda Smith tied for 49th (166). Also competing were McCall Christopher (56th at 167) and Erinn Sutton (74th at 172).
