Sophomore Brian Anderson led the way for the Illinois State mens golf team in competition at the Stevinson Ranch Invitational in Stevinson, Cal. Anderson finished out the tournament with a season-best 220 (71-74-75) three-round stroke total, en route to the highest individual placement for the Redbirds in a tie at 23rd.
Senior Nic Baker was the next highest Redbird finisher, ending the tourney in a tie for 35th-place. Baker turned in a three-round total of 223 (72-75-76) strokes. Following Baker was freshman Kyle Vasel who finished in a tie for 39th after shooting a total of 224 (80-67-77) strokes in the three rounds played. Seniors Adam Goldie and B.J. Brown rounded out the Illinois State crew with Goldie finishing in 60th (73-79-80=232),and Brown coming in at 72nd (82-81-72=235).
As a team the Redbirds finished the tourney in 10th-place out of 16 teams. The Birds posted a team total of 891 (296-295-300) strokes.
Taking the team title for the tourney was the University of Kansas, who finished with 861 (287-283-291) strokes, as well as with 3 of its competitors in the top five individual finishers. Kansas barely edged out the University of Missouri for the title, Missouri finished in second place with a total of 862 (281-284-297) strokes. Finishing in third place was Kansas State (286-290-296=872), followed by Arkansas State (288-290-302=880) in fourth. California State-Stanislaus (282-293-306=881) rounded out the top five with their fifth place finish.
Ben Portie, of tournament host Colorado University, was the individual medalist of the tournament finishing with a three-round total of 208 (70-72-66).
The Redbirds resume competitive golf action when they travel to Branson, Mo. for the Branson Creek Invititational April 7-9.
