The Illinois State mens golf team went into the final round of the 2003 Missouri Valley Conference in first place, only to fall two strokes short of league champion Wichita State. The Redbirds return every player from last seasons runner-up team, and the disappointment of last seasons finish has been motivation to get back on top of the Valley standings this spring.
Illinois State started off on the right foot during the fall season. In the first tournament of the fall season, the Fairway Invitational in Lincoln, Neb., the Birds tied for second as a team, while two players finished in the top ten individually. Brian Anderson scored a personal best of 67 and tied for third while Dustin Edwards tied for his personal best with a 70 and tied for ninth.
The success continued as the Redbirds achieved a record-breaking finish on their home course at the D.A. Weibring tournament. Illinois State finished first, carding the lowest team score in the history of the tournament (853).
Individually, Matt Maskel led the team as he tied for first by firing a personal best of 68 and a three round best of 209. This earned Maskel Missouri Valley Conference player of the week honors. Six Redbirds ranked in the top fifteen in the tournament.
In the final two tournaments the Birds took 12th in the Kansas Invitational and tied for 11th in the Shangri La Shootout. Brian Anderson highlighted the Kansas Invitational by taking seventh individually.
Even though the Birds struggled in the final two tournaments of the fall season, individually, five Illinois State golfers made the top fifteen players in the Missouri Valley Conference. Anderson leads the team with a fifth place ranking, with a stroke average of 72.45.
Kilborn sees a great deal of potential for the spring season and he feels the experience of having 11 returning players will help in the Birds success.
Everybody has learned their weaknesses and strengths, we have been working on our weaknesses, which is primarily our short game, and fine tuning our strengths, Kilborn said.
Kilborn anticipates Anderson and Kyle Vasel to lead the team, but he also believes other players have the ability to fulfill a leadership role.
I would love to see Matt [Maskel], Denny [Bull], and Dustin [Edwards] step up, we will have to see how the others progress, Kilborn said. Its my job to figure out which five are ready to step up at what time.
The first challenge of the spring season took place in Placida, Fla. at the Coral Creek Club against 19th ranked Illinois under match play conditions. Anderson, Maskel, Edwards, Kris Wildenradt, Bull and Vasel made the trip.
Each individual match was close, with Maskels and Bulls coming down to the final hole. Anderson, Vasel and Wildenradt came down to the final two holes, down three, while Edwards finished with three holes left, down four.
Although the Birds did not walk away with a win, they did walk away with a valuable experience. This was the Birds first chance to practice outside since the fall, and play against great competition.
It was good practice and good one on one competition with a great team, Kilborn said. This is a good start and lets us know where our strengths and weaknesses are against tough competition.
The Birds look to capitalize on their strengths as they compete in their first tournament, the Roadrunner Intercollegiate in San Antonio, Texas on March 1 and 2.
With the memory of the near miss at the Valley Championship last year still fresh on their minds, the Birds will look to give 2004 a better ending, one that includes a place atop the Missouri Valley Conference at the end of the season.
