April 19, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State men's golf team will look to retain its conference title as the Redbirds head to Davenport, Iowa to compete in the 2008 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship, Monday-Tuesday, April 21-22, hosted by Northern Iowa at the par-71, 6,278 yard Davenport Country Club.
ISU was picked to finish second in the pre-championship coaches poll with 71 first-place votes. Wichita State was picked to win the 54-hole event as the Shockers garnered 80 first-place votes.
Head coach Ray Kralis feels that if his team continues to get a complete team effort, they will be able to contend for the MVC Championship.
"We wanted to go into the MVC Championship with momentum on our side," said Kralis. "I think we have accomplished that having played our best team golf following our spring preparation."
The Redbirds placed in the top-five as a team in two-of-three events to close out the regular season including second-place finish out of 12 teams at the Branson Creek Invitational (March 31-April 1) and a third-place finish out of 16 teams at the ASU Indian Classic (Apil 7-8) with a three-round-team-total of 27-under-par 837 (276, 279, 282).
"I have been impressed with the quality of golf the guys have demonstrated during recent rounds and everyone is playing well and capable of carrying us," Kralis added. "I believe we can draw on our experience of being in contention and this team has proven they can respond to a challenge. We will need a solid team effort during each round with a couple of guys stepping up in order to contend, but I am confident in the group we have representing us."
ISU will be led by reining MVC Golfer of the Week, junior Ben Murphy and redshirt sophomore Joe Emerich. Murphy, a Dunlap, Ill., native, leads the team with 10 events played including 28 rounds, while Emerich is first on the squad with a 73.8 scoring average.
Also competing for ISU will be sophomore Tommy Bliefnick, redshirt sophomore Kyle Bragg and freshman and MVC Newcomer of the Year candidate Jeff Kellen.
Tee times for the MVC Championship are scheduled for an 8 a.m. shotgun start both days, with 54-holes being played Monday and the final 18 holes Tuesday. Live scoring will be available at Golfstat.com.
