Receiving one first-place vote in the pre-championship coaches poll, head coach Harland Kilborn and the Illinois State mens golf team were picked to finish second behind Wichita State at the 2001 Missouri Valley Conference Mens Golf Championship being held April 30-May 1 at the Tournament Players Club at Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
Were excited to be hosting the event, especially at such a nice facility as the TPC at Deere Run, Kilborn said. Were not going to have any edge going in, but on a good quality course, such as this anything can happen and hopefully our guys are peaking at the right time.
The Redbirds look to improve on last years fourth place finish at the MVC championship held iin Waterloo, Ill. Illinois State enters Mondays action coming off a sixth-place finish at the rain-shortened, 36-hole Branson Creek Invitational on April 14.
Junior Nic Baker leads the Redbirds with a 73.6 average round and has shot 27 of 29 rounds in the 70s. Bakers season-low of 67 came in first round action at the Branson Creek Invitational.
Two-time defending champion Wichita State was picked to win the tournament in the pre-championship coaches poll, totalling seven first-place votes. Following Illinois State in third was Drake, Southwest Missouri State, Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois, respectively. Bradley and Evansville tied for seventh and Creighton rounded out the poll in ninth.
The TPC at Deere Run is a 6,813 yard, par 71 course that serves as the host to the PGA Tours John Deere Classic. The course was designed through a joint effort by PGA TOUR Design Services, Inc., and PGA Tour professional D.A. Weibring, an Illinois State graduate.
Its a great course and it has been kept in great shape, Kilborn said after walking the course. After 54 holes of play, this course will really help separate the players and we as a team need to have the mind set that we can come in and compete with anyone.
Action tees off on Monday, April 30 at 8 a.m., with a shotgun start. Monday features 36 holes while the third and final round of action begins on Tuesday, May 1 at 8 a.m.
