March 28, 2007
ST. LOUIS -
For the eighth time in his career and the fourth time this season, Illinois State men's golfer Matt Miller has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Golfer of the Week, as announced by the league office Wednesday. Miller's eighth career honor puts him in second place all-time in the Valley record books, while he has earned the most weekly honors in Redbird history.
Miller, along with ISU women's golfer Laura Harris, swept the Valley's weekly awards. It marked the first time that Illinois State has captured both awards since February 2006, when Miller and former women's standout Samantha Richdale were each awarded golfer of the week.
The Bloomington, Ill., native earned the weekly accolade by winning his third career tournament at the Ninth Annual Colorado/Stevinson Ranch Invitational on Monday and Tuesday in Stevinson Ranch, Calif. Miller fired a one-over-par 73 during the final-round to capture a one stroke victory, finishing with a three-round total of two-under-par 214 (73, 68, 73) and leading the Redbirds to a third-place tying performance.
Shooting the second-lowest final-round score, Miller claimed medalist honors at the highly-regarded Stevinson Ranch Golf Club and has already claimed two victories this spring, with his other title coming at last month's UTSA Intercollegiate. He also became the first Redbird in Colorado/Stevinson Ranch Invitational history to capture individual honors at the event.
Miller also became the first golfer from the Missouri Valley Conference to take home the tournament's title.
Even though the wind gusts of over 30 mph continued to cause problems for competitors, Miller propelled the Redbirds' move up the leader board, as the team finished with a three-round total of 910 (296, 302, 312).
Miller and the Redbirds will next travel to Branson, Mo., April 2-3 for the Branson Creek Invitational, hosted by Missouri State.
