McLean County Times

NORMAL, Ill. – Single-round team and individual records were set and tied on the opening day of the 2024 Redbird Invitational. The Redbirds' two-round score of 563 is 27 strokes ahead of second-place Little Rock.

The team opened the Invitational with a single-round school-record-tying 282, then improved that mark in the second round with a new school record of seven-under-par 281. Morgan Jones carded a second-round 67 (-5), becoming just the second golfer in school history to achieve a round under 68.

Illinois State's score of 563 leads Little Rock's 590 by 23 strokes. Butler (591), Northern Illinois (593), Bradley (595), South Dakota (598), Drake (602), Loyola Chicago (604), Northern Iowa (608), Evansville (611), Indiana State (625), Illinois Wesleyan (629), IU Indy (631), Illinois Wesleyan "B" (634), and Valparaiso (651) complete the field.

Jones' two-round total of 137 leads the tournament, followed by teammate Jinyoung Yun with a score of 139. Freshman Jessica Jolly recorded rounds of 73 and 70 for a two-round total of 143, placing her fourth individually. Elise Fennell is tied for sixth with rounds of 71 and 74 (+1). Alex Sparrow is tied for 14th with rounds of 72 and 76 (+4). As individuals, Lory Paradis is tied for 26th with a two-round total of 151, Dani Grace Schrock is tied for 30th, and Reagan Kennedy is tied for 37th.

The Redbirds will continue at the course at 8:30 a.m., alongside Little Rock and Butler.

Jones began her day with four birdies and twelve pars in her first round, followed by seven birdies and nine pars in her second round to tie the school record. Yun recorded six birdies and nine pars in her opening round before finishing her second round with three birdies and one bogey for a score of two-under-par.

Jolly started her collegiate career with a one-over-par first round followed by four birdies in her second round to card a score that ties for the second-lowest freshman round in program history. Fennell overcame an early setback to finish strong in both rounds, including scoring the team's only eagle of the day.

Sparrow scored even par in her first collegiate round but faced challenges in her subsequent performance. Paradis improved from an initial four-over-par to shoot three over par as an individual competitor. Schrock rebounded from an eight-over-par start to finish even par later on. Kennedy also showed improvement between rounds.

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