In one year, Chris Eddy went from a redshirt waiting for a chance to play on the Illinois State University mens golf team to a contributor to team success. His head coach, Harland Kilborn, believes the 2001 Belleville East High School graduate can reach for even higher goals. Eddys efforts in his first competitive season merited him the L. Durwood Boone Endowed Scholarship for 2003.
The scholarship was established with an initial grant from the estate of the late L. Durwood Boone, whose playing skills inspired the start of the Redbird golf program in the 1930s. The proceeds have helped support Redbird golf student-athletes since 1995.
Kilborn believes Eddy, a marketing major, merits the recognition based on his improvement since arriving at Illinois State.
Chris contributed a lot of key rounds for our team and was instrumental in our making a run at beating Wichita State to win the Missouri Valley Tournament, said Kilborn, whose team finished second in the Valley. From last year to this, he was definitely our most improved and hes at a point where he can improve his game enough to jump into a top three position for us.
Eddy established his credentials in high school. In the 2000 season, he was the Belleville News/Metro East Golf Coaches Association Player of the Year. For Eddy, the battle for consistency comes one shot at a time. He appreciates what he has learned from Kilborn as well as his mentor, Mike Walsh, a Belleville area PGA teaching professional.
Mike Walsh has taught me to try and take it one shot at a time, and battle back when it doesnt go well, said Eddy. Just try to make the next shot better, the next hole better, the next round better.
The L. Durwood Boone Scholarship is one of 12 endowed scholarships available to Illinois State student-athletes funded by private donors. Though not one of the six fully-funded endowed scholarships at Illinois State University, the L. Durwood Boone Scholarship provides significant support. The Boone Scholarship and the D.A. Weibring Scholarship both go to Redbird mens golfers. Eddy looks forward to a day when he might be one of those contributing to that support.
If I can have a career (in golf) like, say, a D.A., that would be no problem, said Eddy. Id be happy to donate to Redbird golf.
For information about supporting this, or other Illinois State University endowments for student-athletes, call The Redbird Club office at (309) 438-3803.
