Sept. 6, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State men's golf team begins its 2006-07 campaign with a lineup of fresh faces while being led by a familiar one. All-Missouri Valley Conference team member Matt Miller will assume a leadership role as the Redbirds travel to Iowa City, Iowa, for the Hawkeye Intercollegiate, hosted by Iowa on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 9-10th.
Miller returns for his final season with the Redbirds, as the Bloomington, Ill., native is coming off his most productive collegiate season. He posted five top-five finishes, including capturing the individual crown at the Kauai Collegiate Cup. Miller leads the young, but talented team into Iowa along with his brother and new teammate, Drew Miller. Also traveling for the `Birds are senior Ryan Brown, sophomore Joe Emerich and freshman Tommy Bliefnick.
Head coach Ray Kralis is excited about the lineup that is heading to Iowa City and feels that the `Birds have a great opportunity to take home the title.
"I think it's a great opportunity for us to start the season on a high note," said Kralis. "In the first event in the year, we have to learn how to come together and play as a team. You have to deal with mistakes and stay confident. If we can control those things, we can be very competitive in this event. I like the group we have going and we are off to a very competitive start in our qualifying. Matt Miller will be a key veteran for us and his brother Drew has also made a statement. Ryan Brown has also played well all through qualifying."
The Miller duo has been especially competitive in the qualifying rounds leading into this weekend's tournament, as both were paired together in the final round earlier this week. However, Kralis feels that the chemistry the brothers bring to the team will help everyone elevate their game.
"Matt and Drew have got such a neat relationship," said Kralis. "They are both very competitive, and yet they also compliment each other and push and support each other. But, there is no one they would like to beat more than the other. It's a neat combination of things.
"I think Matt has really started gelling into this leadership role and we can see him already stepping in and making that extra effort in getting the new guys acclimated. I certainly see the same when he is treating his brother. He is really classy about it and a really good older brother. Right now the older brother has the upper hand and its one of the neat dynamics, because you have a freshman player in Drew that who has no fear of going after the number one guy because of the relationship, and it creates the right attitude with all the freshman of `lets go after it."
Host school Iowa is joined by Loyola-Chicago, South Dakota State, Western Illinois, Wright State, St. Ambrose plus Missouri Valley Conference members Drake and Evansville.
The Hawkeye Intercollegiate begins Saturday morning starting with a shotgun start at 9 a.m., with teams playing 36 holes. The tournament concludes on Sunday with another shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. and teams competing in the final 18 holes.
