NORMAL, Ill. – Eastern Kentucky women's golf kicks off the 2022-23 campaign this weekend at the Redbird Invitational, hosted by Illinois State at the Weibring Golf Club from Sept. 11-12.
 
"We are looking forward to getting the season started this weekend at the Redbird," said head coach Mandy Moore. "This is a familiar course and tournament for us as a team. Elisa and Rylea both had top-5 finishes there last year so I know they will be confident and ready for a good week."
 
The Colonels ended last season coming in 4th place in the ASUN Conference Championship and an individual top-30 finish in the NCAA Regionals. As a team, EKU wrapped up the regular season coming in the top three in 8-of-12 tournaments, including five first-place and two second-place finishes.
 
EKU returns six members of last year's squad: Rylea Marcum, Elisa Orduna Shackleton, Maddie Hensley, Mattie Jo Neeley, Alice Daag, and Grace Clark. 
 
Marcum is slated to be the leading returner for EKU, the Georgetown, Ky. native competed in all 12 events last season and placed 8th in the ASUN Championship. She ended the season with a stroke average of 74.39 and placed first at the Lady RedWolves Classic and the Terrier Intercollegiate, fourth in last year's Redbird. 
 
Shackleton also competed in every tournament last season, the senior from Zaragoza, Spain placed in the top three at the Redbird Invite, sixth at the Colonel Classic, and seventh at the Low County Intercollegiate. Ending the year with a 75.19 stroke average and a season-low round of 68 in Normal, Ill.
 
EKU's other senior, Hensley, is set to step into a larger role this season. The Eminence, Ky. product played in 7-of-12 tournaments last year with a 76.81 stroke average. Her highest finish was 11th in the Colonel Classic.
 
Neeley and Daag are poised for an impactful season in the maroon and white. Neeley played in four tournaments, placing 22nd in the Colonel Classic with a 77.92 average. Daag played in two events, with a stroke average of 82.00.
 
Redshirt-Fr. Grace Clark and true freshman Mary Keene Marrs, and Elizabeth Tucci are set for their first official collegiate golf season starting this weekend.

EKU enters the Redbird as the highest-ranked team in the event at No. 105, the team won the invite during the 2021 season. The Colonels hold several Redbird Invitational records, including the 54-hole tournament team record of 861 and the single-round record of 284 in 2021. Shackleton and Marcum both sit on the top-10 in tournament history in single-round and 54-hole tournament scores. 
 
The Colonels look to improve their fourth-place conference finish from a season ago. After the Redbird Invite, EKU will compete in five other Fall tournaments, then prepare for the Spring slate starting in February.

"I've seen a lot of good things and some great scores in practice so far. I'm excited to get going and see what this team can do this Fall." said Moore.
 
Full 2022-23 Schedule
Sep. 11-12 | Redbird Invitational, Normal, Illinois, Weibring Golf Club
Sep. 17-18 | Nittany Lion Invitational, State College, Pa., Penn State Blue Course
Sep. 26-28 | Johnie Imes Invitational, Columbia, Mo., The Club at Hawthorne
Oct. 10-11 | Lady RedWolves Classic, State University, Ark., Sage Meadow GC
Oct. 24-25 | Charlotte Invitational, Concord, N.C., Cabarrus CC
Oct. 31-Nov. 1 | Mercer Invitational, Macon, Ga., Brickyard GC
Feb. 13-14 | Sea Best Intercollegiate, Jacksonville, Fla., San Jose CC
March 6-7 | North Florida Intercollegiate, Jacksonville, Fla., Jacksonville G&CC
March 13-14 | Jackrabbit Invitational, Boulder City, Nev., Boulder Creek GC
March 27-28 | Georgia State Spring Invitational, Johns Creek, Ga., Rivermont GC
April 3-4 | ASUN Championship, Owens Crossroads, Ala., RTJ Golf Trail at Hampton Cove
May 8-10 | NCAA Regionals, TBA
May 19-24 | NCAA Championship, Scottsdale, Ariz., Grayhawk GC