RIO VERDE, Ariz. – The Wichita State women's golf team kicked off their spring season with a ninth place in the finish in the Rio Verde Invitational at Rio Verde Country Club on Sunday afternoon. Kate Tilma led the Shockers with a top-5 finish. 
 
The Shockers finished in ninth with a score of 889, 25 strokes over-par and 24 strokes behind the winner, California Baptist. The Shockers compiled round scores of 297, 299, and 293. Illinois State's Ali Schrock won the individual title with a score of 211, five strokes under-par.

Freshman Hillary Currier and sophomore Tilma had an excellent first day in the desert, with the pair roaming in the top-20 throughout most of the first day. Tilma birdied her final hole of the day to jump into the top-10, while Currier would bogey hers knocking her out of the top-20.
 
STANDINGS THROUGH ROUND ONE
t-8th Kate Tilma: 71 (-1)
t-21st Hillary Currier: 73 (+1)
t-41st Lauren Thiele: 76 (+5)
t-46th Madison Slayton: 77 (+6)
t-86th Mackenzie Wilson: 86 (+14)
 
Team: 9th, 297 (+9)
 
Tilma continued to pace the Shocker lineup, as she posted an even 72 round on day two to move into a tie for sixth place on the individual leaderboard. Mackenzie Wilson had a much-improved round, going from +14 to just +3 the second time around at Rio Verde.
 
STANDINGS THROUGH ROUND TWO
t-6th Kate Tilma: 71-72--143 (-1)
t-39th Lauren Thiele: 76-74--150 (+6)
t-47th Hillary Currier: 73-78--151 (+7)
t-68th Madison Slayton: 77-78--155 (+11)
t-94th Mackenzie Wilson: 86-75--161 (+17)
 
Team: t-10th, 297-299--596 (+20)
 
The Shockers fell down as far as 12th place as a team on day three but would tighten up down the stretch to pull into ninth place when results went final. 
 
Tilma impressed again, finishing one-under on the final day to finish in a tie for fifth place on the individual leaderboard. 
 
Wilson and Lauren Thiele would pour in their best performance of the tournament on the final day. Both finished just one-over across the final round.
 
STANDINGS THROUGH ROUND THREE (FINAL)
t-5th Kate Tilma: 71-72-71--214 (-2)
t-36th Lauren Thiele: 76-74-73--223 (+7)
t-53rd Hillary Currier: 73-78-76--227 (+11)
t-78th Madison Slayton: 77-78-79--234 (+18)
t-78th Mackenzie Wilson: 86-75-73--234 (+18)
 
Team: t-10th, 297-299-293--889 (+25)
 
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1st. California Baptist –865 (+1) 
t-2nd. Xavier – 870 (+6)
t-2nd. Illinois State – 870 (+6)
4th. Kennesaw State – 878 (+14)
5th. Butler – 886 (+15)
6th. Oakland– 884 (+20)
7th. Bradley – 886 (+22)
8th. Missouri State – 888 (+24)
9th. Wichita State – 889 (+25)
10th. Akron – 891 (+27)
t-11th. Ohio – 892 (+28)
t-11th. South Dakota – 892 (+28)
13th. Utah Tech – 895 (+31)
t-14th. Ball State – 902 (+38)
t-14th. Loyola – 902 (+38)
16th. Evansville – 905 (+41)
17th. Western Michigan – 906 (+42)
18th. Eastern Michigan – 916 (+52)
19th. Central Michigan – 919 (+55)
20th. Bowling Green – 920 (+56)
 
The Shockers get a short time off before returning to tournament action on March 10 at the Tulane Classic in New Orleans, Louisiana.