The Illinois State mens golf team will head to Hollister, Mo. April 8-9 for the Branson Creek Invitational, hosted by Valley foe Southwest Missouri State.
Head coach Harland Kilborn says his team is heading into the tournament ready to prove its worth, and he is hoping for success from all of his competitors.
I think we could be very competitive in this tournament, said Kilborn. I know my team wants to prove it can compete against all the teams there, and if we can play well a finish in the top two or three is definetly possible.
Last spring the Birds finished 6th out of 10 teams at the Branson Creek Invitational. Senior Nic Baker posted the top individual score finishing in a tie for 13th-place. Sophomore Brian Anderson finished close behind tied for 18th, while senior B.J. Brown placed in the Redbirds top three a tied for 35th.
The Birds will be taking two new faces to this tournament in freshman Dustin Edwards and sophomore Walter Brown, both making their season debuts. Coach Kilborn is hoping the edition of two new players will help build the momentum the team needs to get ready for the fast approaching Missouri Valley Tournament at the end of the month.
Walter and Dustin are going to be going down with us this week, said Kilborn. Were hoping to spark the line-up with a couple of new players, and maybe that will help build some momentum for us heading into the Valley tournament. That tournament is our next chance to qualify for regionals, so hopefully the change works out for us.
Also competing at Branson for the Birds will be Baker, Anderson, (B.J.) Brown, and freshman Kyle Vasel. Edwards and (Walter) Brown will have a play-off during the teams practice round on Sunday to determine which of them will compete as an individual.
The tournament field includes 12 other teams in Bradley, Kansas State, Iowa State, Nebraska, Northern Iowa, Oral Roberts, Saint Louis, Southeast Missouri State, Southern Illinois, Southwest Missouri State, Western Illinois, and Western Kentucky.
Tournament action begins on Monday with 36 holes of competition, and is completed Tuesday with the final 18 holes.
