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Women’s golf set to host at Coyote Creek Golf Club

The par-3 11th hole at Coyote Creek Golf Club. Photo courtesy of Coyote Creek Golf Club.

For the first time since 2016, the Bradley women’s golf team is set to host its own tournament: the Bradley Coyote Creek Classic. It’s the fourth tournament of the fall season for the Braves and Coyote Creek Golf Club in Bartonville will host the 13-team tournament. 

Coyote Creek has been the home of the men’s and women’s teams since the fall of 2019. Following the merger of Pine Lakes Golf Club and Coyote Creek, the Braves announced it would be their new home. 

Coyote Creek showcases an 18-hole, par 72, championship-level golf course. The course was designed by the late Bruce Borland, who was a senior designer for Jack Nicklaus. 

Outlined by woods, the course offers views that can be both gorgeous and terrifying for golfers on the tee box. Tight, lush fairways also abound, as the course is always in great condition. 

Head coach Halley Morell is ecstatic to host their first tournament in seven years and to showcase a great golf course in Central Illinois. 

“I’m so excited,” Morell said. “I think everything is coming together; the course is in really good shape, we have a really good field coming out for this tournament and I am just excited to show off Peoria and Coyote Creek Golf Course.”

Coyote Creek offers one of the more challenging courses in Central Illinois with tight fairways protected by trees, and elevated greens that are highly contoured. The stretch of holes that most will remember when they leave includes holes 2, 3 and 4. 

The third hole is one of the most iconic par-5s in the state of Illinois. The 11th hole has been revamped and now the par-3 displays a large coyote face, filled in with rocks. 

Bradley will have home course advantage for the tournament next Saturday, which could play a factor. Morell knows they can set the course to their liking and advantage. 

“There are some holes here that our team knows where to hit the ball and where to miss,” Morell said. “Other teams coming in that only get one practice round won’t quite have that advantage.”

The field coming in for this tournament is loaded with great talent, and teams that the Braves are familiar with. 

The field of 13 includes seven Missouri Valley teams, highlighted by Illinois State, Missouri State and Northern Iowa. Other non-MVC teams to watch for include Xavier, Western Michigan and Green Bay. 

The Bradley Coyote Creek Classic tees off at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9. 

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