PEORIA, Ill. -- If Monday's opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference Preview was any indication, the 2007 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Women's Golf Championship (April 15-17) will be extremely competitive as the top four teams are separated by just six shots after one round of play at the MVC Preview at the par-72, 6,043 Weaver Ridge Golf Club.
Windy conditions made play difficult Monday, but Southern Illinois wrapped up the first day of play in the lead with a 310 team total, boasting four players that are tied for seventh or better heading into Tuesday's final round. The Salukis will have their hands full, however, owning just a two-shot lead on Missouri State which ended the day at 312.
Missouri State's Lyndsey Adams turned in the best round of the day on the women's side with a two-over 74 and holds a two-shot lead on Bradley's Bari-Lynn Erais, SIU's Kelly Gerlach and Missouri State's Missy Linnens who are all tied for second place at 76.
Bradley is just three shots behind the Salukis and one back of Missouri State in third place at 313. Erais fired the low round of the day for the Braves with her 76 and is two shots ahead of teammates Rikki Sobel and Whitney Cox who find themselves in a six-way tie for seventh place at 78. Sophomore Lauren Downing concluded the scoring for Bradley, shooting a season-low 81 and is currently tied for 19th place.
I-74 rival Illinois State is three shots behind Bradley in fourth place at 316 with a pair of players tied for fifth place at 77. Northern Iowa finished the day in fifth place at 324, while Wichita State and Indiana State are tied for sixth at 326. Drake is in eighth place at 331, while Creighton rounds out the field in ninth place at 338.
Nine of the 10 Missouri Valley Conference teams are participating in the MVC Preview, which will be the only tournament Bradley will host before the State Farm MVC Women's Golf Championship, April 15-17, at WeaverRidge Golf Club.
Tournament action will conclude Tuesday with one round of play, beginning with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
