TERRE HAUTE —
Indiana State will be missing its best player, junior Reece Feducia, in the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Golf Championships at the Country Club of Terre Haute from today through Tuesday.
Feducia was the team’s medalist in their first five tournaments of the fall season, but is still recovering from complications due to gall bladder surgery. She was all-MVC a year ago, finishing tied for third in last year’s MVC tournament.
For most teams, losing their top player would be devastating. But for the Sycamores, several players have stepped up to assume medalist roles the balance of the regular season.
To wit, McCall Christopher, Christina Beyerl, Emily Dixon, Christopher and Dixon again, paced ISU in the next five tournaments. In their last tournament, freshman Amanda Smith was medalist. Smith missed practice time earlier in the week due to back spasms, but Towne expected her to be available for MVC action.
“We’ve hung in there, everybody is pitching in,” Towne said. “I think that’s going to be our strength, maybe we can sneak up in this tournament. Everybody is capable on this team of shooting an even-par or better round … and I don’t think the other schools necessarily have that.”
ISU tied for seventh place in last year’s rain-shortened event, won by host team Illinois State in earning its fourth straight MVC championship. Individual medalist Brianne Cooper also returns for the Redbirds.
This year, Missouri State is a unanimous pick to win while the Sycamores will finish sixth, according to a pre-championship poll of MVC coaches. But if you peruse the team stroke average statistics, there is not a significant difference between the top seven teams.
Missouri State has a 305.77 stroke average this season, while ISU is just 12.03 strokes behind — in seventh place. In between falls Southern Illinois, Illinois State, Northern Iowa, Wichita State and Bradley.
“Very competitive,” Towne said. “Anybody could win, they really could. Missouri State has pretty much all seniors … typically the kids that have more experience kind of rise to the top. But I don’t know I can rank them No. 1.
“Northern Iowa is playing crazy. Southern Illinois is playing fairly consistently. Wichita State has some fantastic facilities. Throw us in there. I think everyone recognizes we’re an up-and-coming program.
“If this was a basketball team, they’d be the kind that dive for the ball,” he added. “They don’t like to lose, they know they’re really pretty good and they know their talent is going to come through here soon. It’s fun to coach a team where the girls truly care that much.
“When we put it all together, if everybody’s mind is good and they’re comfortable playing at home, then we can put together a representative finish. I think it’s only limited by what [the players] think they can do.”
Towne campaigned for a format change to making the MVC Championships a three-day tournament.
“In the past they’ve done 36 [holes] all in one day and then 18 the last [day],” Towne said. “To me, it makes for a really long day. There’s no drama in the tournament. It seems like when it’s 36 [holes] in one day, it’s 14 hours you’re here at the golf course. Gobble some food down and do it again at six o’clock the next morning. It’s just not as fun for the kids.
“By having it 18 [holes] each day, creates a little more drama. It’s better for the spectators … not traipsing around 36 holes. The girls enjoy it more, they can practice in between rounds. As a coach, you have a better opportunity to coach. Recuperate a little bit and enjoy the whole thing.”
The degree of difficulty will be extended a bit for the players too.
“We set the course up pretty hard for the tournament,” Towne said. “We’re only required to play like 5,800 yards. We’re going to play it nearly all the way back … 6,100 to 6,200 yards. We’ll put the pins in the corners so that you’re going to have to be accurate. Try to identify who’s playing the best this week.”
ISU is pleased to be the host school for this year’s event.
“Man, I think when people leave this tournament they’re going to say ‘that was really nice in Terre Haute,’ ” Towne said. “The [CC of TH] is going to take good care of them. It’s going to be better food, better facilities than what they’re accustomed to. I think it’ll reflect good on the community.
“That’s another thing for having it in three days rather than two, it’s more money for the town. Everyone is eating in restaurants and staying in hotels. There will be 200 or 300 people that will travel, so it will be a nice economic boost.”
Being the host team can be a distraction, but Towne eschews that possibility.
“Sometimes you have a lot of distractions,” Towne admitted. “We’re trying to be equipped where you can just say hi to your friends and family and go on about your business. Embrace the whole thing. But it does provide some other challenges.”
The Sycamores’ players are confident their team will do well in the tournament.
“I think it being our home course we have a real chance of taking it,” Christopher said. “We have a gameplan and I think our experience out here will help us tremendously. I think it’s going to come down to the back nine on the third day.”
“I’m excited,” Beyerl noted. “We’ve never had a tournament in Terre Haute. It’s awesome to have it here at the Country Club.”
Dixon was the most confident of all the Sycamores.
“I think there are a lot of good teams, but I think we’re right up there with them,” Dixon said. “Having practiced our here all year is a plus for us. I think we’ll win.”
The winning team earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
College
Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Driven: Indiana State University golfer Gina Della Camera hits a drive during a practice session last week, getting ready for the Missouri Valley Tournament.
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Out of trouble: Indiana State University golfer Christina Beyerl practices her shots from the sand during practice last week.
Discussion
ISU golfers step up after injury sidelines top player
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