YORKTOWN, Ind. -- Indiana State's final round score of 307 is the best it has posted this year in five trips around the course. Against a tightly bunched and competitive field of 16 teams, the Sycamores finished in a tie for 10th place against both Missouri Valley Conference and regional rivals at the Ball State Cardinal Classic,. The event was held over the par-72, 6,204-yard track at the The Players Club just outside of Muncie.

Sierra Hargens continued to pace the Sycamores as she recorded a final score of one-under-par 71. That coupled with rounds of 75 and 78 gave her a three-day score of 224 which tied for 11th place. Her tally of 224 is a career-best topping her 229 put up at last spring's Missouri Valley Conference Championship.

"Sierra got it going again and I am looking forward to her continued good play," Indiana State head coach Greg Towne said. "Lauren was one over for most of the day and kept us in it. The rest of the team just needs some more play. Our lack of summer play is showing by some of the mistakes we are making. I believe we will improve every event."  

Kayla Ryan finished in a tie for 40th place with rounds of 79, 76 and a Tuesday score of 79. Her total of 234 is 10 shots better than her previous career best of 244 which she posted at last year's Missouri Valley Conference Championship. Thilda Staubo opened with a round of 79 and then came back with a 75 in the afternoon before tallying an 81 on Tuesday. He finished with a score of 235 which is a tie for 46th place.

Abigail Irwin posted rounds of 79 and 80 yesterday and followed that up with another 79 on Tuesday. Her score of 238 is also a career-best. Freshman Lauren Green posted rounds of 84 and 83 on Monday and then came back with a round of 78 on Tuesday as she total of 245 placed her in 70th.

The Sycamores' round of 307 was a season-best. The rounds of 312, 309 and 307 showed a steady improvement as the tournament went on and the finally tally of 928 was good enough to tie for 10th place with Illinois State. They finished ahead of Dayton (936), Purdue Fort Wayne (940), Central Michigan (950), Evansville (950) and Western Illinois (980).

Indianapolis won the event with a score of 866. Kennedy Holtsclaw fired rounds of 72, 71 and 70 to finish with a total of 213 and medalist honors. Host Ball State was second at 901 while Southern Illinois tied the Cardinals for second place. Bradley finished fourth with a tally of 907 while Bowling Green and Texas A&M - Corpus Christi tied for fifth at 908. Western Michigan was seventh at 911 while Cleveland State was eighth at 918 and Ohio was four shots ahead of the Sycamores in ninth at 924.

The Sycamores return to the course on Monday and Tuesday, October 1-2 when they travel to Indianapolis for the Butler Fall Invitational.