On Sunday night in Springfield, with the Benedictine Invitational beginning the next morning, he was walking back to the team's hotel with roommate and teammate Sam Waters, a freshman from Valier.

"I told [Sam], 'I feel good. I think I might win this week.' And he said that's the attitude you need."

Holland, the son of Steve and Tracie Holland of Maryville, woke up Monday and birdied five straight holes with seven total and no bogies for a 65 in the first round. That score breaks an 18-hole record 66 that has stood at RLC for more than a decade. To add to that honor, Holland turned in a 70 in the second round to take tournament medalist at 65-70-135.

He did it against obstacles - cool in the morning and standing water all over the course from rainy conditions. Holland knew the 65 was good, but he didn't learn until the drive home from Springfield that he had broken the RLC record.

"That's awesome," he said after learning what he'd done. "There's so much history at Rend Lake in golf. That's amazing. … But it could have been any one of us. Matt [Walton] has been putting in numerous hours. We are all working hard and it's good to see some results right now with our invitational coming up and the region tournament [in May]. I just had a good day. I had fun and just relaxed."

Rend Lake Head Coach Dave Smith said, "I started coaching in '89 and in any [previous] records they had, I never found any scores like that. Since I've been coaching, we've had three guys shoot 66." Two of the former Warriors with 66 are RLC Hall of Famers Matt Armstrong and the late Jace Bugg.

"That's pretty good company," Smith said.

Holland was tournament medalist by nine strokes and the Warriors as a team won first place over McKendree University by 11.

"He just played lights out," RLC Assistant Coach Lucas Cromeenes said about Holland. "I think he had 24 putts for the whole round. That's really good. It was pretty cool."

The Warriors shot a consistent 291-291-582. It was a team effort, Cromeenes explained. He said sophomore Kade Baker (Brazil, Ind.), RLC's fourth man, shot a solid 77 first round but faltered with an 85 the second round. But Waters, who struggled with a first round 81, stepped up and birdied the last three holes to card a 74 in the second round. Sophomore leader Matt Walton (Lancashire, England) shot a little higher than his average, 74-75 and sophomore Joe Scholl (Calvert City, Ky.) finished fourth in the tournament at 75-72.

"That was big for us to stay that far ahead of the field," Cromeenes said of Waters' late surge. "They picked each other up for sure."

Holland is a graduate of Collinsville High School. The Warriors will host the RLC Invitational, Sunday and Monday, April 17 and 18, at Rend Lake Golf Course in Whittington. For all things athletic at The Lake, visit the college online at www.rlc.edu/warriors.

Courtesy of Daniel Herbst, Pinckneyvile Community High School

PINCKNEYVILLE, Ill. - Panther softball senior Taylor Cicardi, daughter of Mark and Candy Cicardi of Pinckneyville, has signed a letter of intent to play for the Rend Lake College Lady Warriors and Coach Dave Ellingsworth in the fall of 2011.

Cicardi, one of six Lady Panthers signed to play college softball, earned First-Team River to River Mississippi Division All-Conference honors as a junior after hitting seven home runs to tie for the all-time season's best for PCHS. She delivered the game-winning, walk-off RBI to win the regional championship as a junior.

As she prepares for her third year as a starter in the Panther softball line-up, Cicardi and her experienced teammates hope to improve on last year's excellent 35-2 record.

"It feels good," she said. "I truly think it's a blessing, especially to be a part of a team that has had great success in their program."

Orange, of Millstadt, led the Lady Warriors last spring as a freshman with five stolen bases in 34 games and was never thrown out trying to steal. She batted .313 with 36 hits, three doubles, a triple and 12 RBI with 23 runs scored. She was fifth on the team in RBI. Her spring 2011 season starts March 2 against Lindenwood University JV.

Evangel Lady Crusaders Head Coach Jerry Breaux couldn't find anything he doesn't like about Orange.

"She's got all the skills - her speed, her arm, her bat, her maturity. Obviously she's an outstanding athlete and student. She's the complete package. We are ecstatic to get her."

Orange will be playing center field for Evangel, Breaux said.

"She's probably the best center fielder in our league," said RLC Head Coach Dave Ellingsworth. "With her arm, she can play shortstop. ...They are getting ... an extremely competitive player.

"As far as what type of kid, she is a mover and a shaker in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes," Ellingsworth added. "She'll be an Academic All-American."

Orange is focusing on special education at RLC and has a 3.68 GPA. She also ran on Rend Lake's women's cross country team this fall, in addition to practicing and playing softball.

"[She's] a quiet leader," Ellingsworth said. "She's the kid who stays after practice and asks for extra work. She has represented our program very well. They are just getting an all-around great kid."

While they're all kids to Ellingsworth, the 20-year-old said her level of maturity is what comes to mind first when asked about what she's learned at The Lake.

"I've grown a lot," she said. "... Coach Jade [Geuther] coming here has done a lot for the program and has helped me come out of my shell and want to be that much better."

Breaux said Orange's tuition will be completely covered at the private university, located in Springfield, Mo. According to the university's softball media guide, Springfield recently ranked among the top 10 best places in America to live and work. Breaux said it's a unique school where Orange will have great opportunities to break even more of that shell. One of those is Christian missionary travels.

"[I'm] definitely interested in missionary opportunities with the team and maybe even possibly being on my own," Orange said. "I like that it's God-centered where I can balance my academics with my athletics and put God at that number one spot."

"She's going to fit right in with what we do and what we are about because that's what she's about," said Breaux.

For all things athletic at RLC, visit the college online at www.rlc.edu/warriors.