March 28, 2006
STEVINSON RANCH, Calif. -
With the teams unable to complete the final round on Tuesday due to heavy rain and lightning, the Illinois State men's golf team finished tied for sixth-place with Missouri at the 8th annual Colorado/Stevinson Ranch Invitational. The Redbirds shot a two-round team total of 605 (300, 305) and finished nine shots off the lead. Junior Matt Miller led the `Birds, firing a first-round even-par 72 to finish tied for fourth-place with a two-round total of 147 (72, 75) and three shots off the lead at the Stevinson Ranch Golf and Country Club.
Assistant coach Pina Gentile was disappointed that the teams were unable to finish the final round but still feels that the team will be able to take something out of the tournament.
"We went into today with the idea that we were going to move up in the standings," said Gentile. "We didn't get the chance to see where we could have finished. But it was still good to get out there and play, and I'm optimistic heading into the next tournament."
Matt Maskel carded a second-round two-under-par 70 and finished tied for 16th with a two-round total of 150 (80, 70). Senior Kris Wildenradt was at the top of the leader board after shooting a first-round four-under-par 68, but the weather also contributed to difficulties for the field in the second-round as he finished tied for 19th with a two-round total of 151 (68, 83). Chris Eddy fired two rounds of 80 and finished tied for 61st with a two-round total of 160 (80, 80). Rounding out the lineup, Ben Murphy fired a two-round total of 161 (80, 81) and finished tied for 63rd.
Host Colorado won the tournament, with a two-round team total of 596 (298, 298) and one shot ahead of Kansas State. The Buffaloes' were led by Ryan Anderson (76, 72) and Edward McGlasson (74, 74) who finished tied for sixth-place with a two-round total of 148. Oklahoma City's Daniel Mitchell won medalist honors, firing a first-round two-under-par 70 to finish with a two-round total of 144 (70, 74).
The Redbirds travel to Jonesboro, Ark., on April 10th-11th, for the Arkansas State Indian Classic at the Ridge Point Country Club.
