Nic Baker fired a low score of 70 today to bring the Redbirds back from nine strokes behind first place in the final round of the ninth annual D.A. Weibring Intercollegiate to win the tournament by three strokes Tuesday.
The Redbirds defended the Weibring championship with a total score of 883 (297, 295, 291), while Arkansas State (886) and Iowa State (886) trailed ISU at second place. The Birds finished ahead of seven Missouri Valley Conference foes, including Bradley, Creighton, Drake, Evansville, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois and Southwest Missouri State.
Nic Baker led the scoring effort for the Redbirds with an individual score of 216 (73, 73, 70), good enough for second place behind Iowa States Matt Gatchel. The Hillsboro, Ill. native attributes the pressure to win to todays success.
We always talk about the day before a tournament -- coming in and doing well the last round and being in a position to win and we did that and it feels great, Baker said.
Also aiding the Birds was B.J. Brown (217). Brown was in second place at the end of day one, firing a 72 and 71. The Staunton, Ill. native fired a final round score of 74 to land him a fourth place shot in the tournament.
Senior Dan Cerny, of Orland Park, completed the tournament with a total score of 218 (72, 75, 71), earning him fifth place honors Tuesday.
Adam Goldie (219) competed as an individual and fired a first round low of 69 on Monday. The junior from Monmouth wrapped up the tournament with second and third round scores of 75 and landed a sixth place finish overall.
Walter Brown and Brian Anderson tied for 35th (229), Dave Klaas and Greg Morgan tied for 49th (232) and Jason Stuckwisch (235) tied for 59th place.
Coach Harland Kilborn is pleased with the repeat victory, particularly because of the obstacles the Birds faced today.
Its exactly what we were hoping to have happen -- to come to Crestwicke and be the defending champion and take care of business here at home, Kilborn said.
To seize a victory after being behind nine holes and to win three strokes ahead of the field is an accomplishment in itself, but a team that did so under frustrating conditions is a team to be proud of, Kilborn said.
I cant say enough about the guys today under the tough conditions -- the winds were tough and the pins were tough. It was a full team effort today and Im real proud of the guys, the way they hung in there and played solid under tough conditions, Kilborn said.
The Birds resume play this weekend as they participate in the University of Kansas Invite in Lawrence, Kan.
