Oct. 28, 2008
Final Stats
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - -
Sophomore Jeff Kellen fired a 2-under-par 70, in the final round of the Sam H. Hall Intercollegiate at Hattiesburg Country Club Tuesday, leading the Illinois State men's golf team to a tie for fourth place in the 14-team event.
The Redbirds shot a three-round total of 884 (300-290-294) on the 6,902-yard, par-72 course. Kellen, the Rockford, Ill., native, led the `Birds flight, carding a 2-over-par 218 (75-73-70), which was good enough to tie for seventh place. Joe Emerich had another top-20 finish, shooting a 222 (74-73-74) and earning a share of 17th place.
Head coach Ray Kralis was hoping for a little more out of his team Tuesday.
"The competitor in us is a little disappointed," said Kralis. "Being four shots back from second place and not making any ground doesn't settle well. It just goes to show how important each shot is in a 54-hole event."
Tommy Bliefnick and Kyle Bragg both finished tied for 22nd place, tallying a three-round total of 222. Rounding out the scoring for ISU was sophomore Will Cullen, who shot a 227 (75-77-75) and tied for 48th place.
New Orleans won the event, shooting a 54-hole total of 868 (296-285-287), while Ken Looper, also of New Orleans, was the individual champion, shooting a 4-under-par 212 (72-71-69).
Illinois State placed in the top-10 in all five of its events during the 2008 fall schedule, including four top-five finishes.
The Redbirds will have a break in their schedule until Feb. 16, 2009, when they resume their 2008-09 season at the Roadrunner Intercollegiate in San Antonio.
