For the first time since 1992, the Illinois State mens golf team swept both the team and individual medallist honors as senior Adam Goldie held on for a two-stroke victory to lead the Redbirds to a four-stroke win over Wichita State, Tuesday, at The TPC at Deere Run. With the win, the Redbirds earned a bid to the NCAA Championships.
In addition to winning medallist honors, head coach Harland Kilborn was also named the unanimous conference coach of the year. It was the third time that Illinois State has won the league title since joining the conference in 1982 and the first NCAA berth since 1975.
The great team effort that we had yesterday set us up for the play today, Kilborn said. Obviously the individual play of Adam Goldie, today and yesterday, also had a part in our success. We have been trying to do this for a couple of years now, but its been difficult because Wichita State is such a great team.
Wichita State put the pressure on us and for a while it looked liked they were going to take us, but we played well down the stretch. It was a lot of fun to watch develop and now our team will have a chance to go to the NCAA.
Goldie became the second Redbird medallist, after Tim Sipula won the event in 1992.
I came out and played my own game and didnt force it, Goldie said. I didnt try to do anything I wasnt capable of. This means a great deal for our golf program. I thought we had the potential the last few years, but it never developed. Now we have the opportunity to go against the best in the country.
Goldie fired a par 71 on the final day to stay two strokes ahead of Evansvilles Mike Birkenfeld, who also posted a par effort. Illinois State finished with four golfers in the top 15 as Brian Anderson finished in a tie for fifth with a 220 and Nic Baker in ninth with a 222. B.J. Brown recorded a 14th-place effort with a 226.
Goldie and Anderson were each awarded all-conference honors.
Wichita State finished second with a 883, nearly overcoming the Redbirds 14-stroke lead heading into the final round, and Evansville was third (902), Northern Iowa was fourth (915), Southwest Missouri State was fifth (916), Drake was sixth (921), Southern Illinois was seventh (939), Bradley was eighth (947) and Creighton was ninth (956).
The championship was the 107th for the Illinois State Athletics Department since joining the Valley in 1982.
2002 Missouri Valley Conference
Mens Golf All-Conference Team
Adam Goldie, Illinois State (Medalist)
Brian Anderson, Illinois State
Mike Birkenfeld, Evansville
Judd Easterling, Wichita State
David Jenkins, Southwest Missouri State
Mike Lewis, Northern Iowa
Jason Novascone, Wichita State
Jason Reddington, Evansville
Julien Trudeau, Wichita State
Nick Underwood, Wichita State
2002 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year
Harland Kilborn, Illinois State
