April 10, 2006
JONESBORO, Ark. -
Senior Matt Maskel fired a first-round two-under-par 70 and finished day one tied for 17th place with a two-round total of 149 (70, 79) and eights shots off the lead at the 10th Annual Arkansas State Indian Golf Classic held at the RidgePointe Country Club in Jonesboro, Ark. The Redbirds finished the day in tenth-place with a two-round total of 606 (297, 309).
Head coach Ray Kralis was disappointed with the Redbirds' scores after day one but is confident that the team will be able to move up in the standings in tomorrow's final-round.
"The conditions were great today," said Kralis. "But we didn't get the scores that we were looking for in the afternoon round. The team is still upbeat and ready to get back at it tomorrow. I expect these guys to rebound in the final-round."
Senior Kris Wildenradt (74, 78) and junior Matt Miller (77, 75) both finished day one tied for 34th with a two-round total of 152. Senior Chris Eddy fired a two-round total of 153 (76, 77) and finished tied for 42nd. Rounding out the lineup for the `Birds, senior Jason Kemp finished tied for 72nd with a two-round total of 161 (80, 81).
Playing as an individual, freshman Ben Murphy fired a two-round total of162 (82, 80) and finished the day in 77th place.
Missouri Valley Conference member Missouri State finished the day in the lead, with a two-round team total of 588 (295, 293) and two shots ahead of fellow Valley member Southern Illinois. Leading the way for the Bears was Devin Carrey, who finished day one tied for second-place with a two-round total of one-under-par 143 (71, 72). Cristobal Flanagan of Arkansas-Little Rock ended the day in the lead, firing a second-round three-under-par 69 to finish with a two-round total of three-under-par 141 (72, 69).
Kralis feels it is important for the `Birds to play solid golf heading into the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship held April 24-25th at the Prairie Dunes Golf Club in Hutchinson, Kan.
"We have to go out and send the right message tomorrow," said Kralis. "We want to end the tournament on a good note before we head into the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship. We have got the fire power to have a storied type of round and the team is certainly capable of doing it."
The Redbirds resume play on Tuesday beginning at 8:00 a.m. for the final 18 holes of the tournament.
