Sept. 16, 2008
Final Stats
LAWRENCE, Kan. -
The Illinois State men's golf team grinded to a seventh-place finish in the final round of the Kansas Invitational Tuesday, with junior Joe Emerich paving the way, shooting a 1-over-par 73 at Alvamar Golf Club.
The Redbirds finished the 54-hole event with a three-round total of 894 (304-288-302) to secure seventh-place. Emerich led the charge with a three-round total of 222 (76-73-73) and a tie for 18th-place. Junior Tommy Bliefnick carded a 3-over-par 75 with a tournament total of 223 (77-71-75) alongside sophomore Will Cullen, who also tallied a 223 (76-71-76) where they both tied for 22nd.
Head coach Ray Kralis was proud of the effort and is excited about his team's potential.
"We are a good team and we showed ourselves what we are capable of in the second-round," said Kralis. "If we can carry the team effort forward and build on it, hopefully our best team golf is still to come."
Jeff Kellen and Ben Murphy rounded out the scoring for the Redbirds, shooting a 6-over-par 78 on the 7,092-yard course. Kellen ended the tournament with a three-round total of 226 (75-73-78) where he finished tied for 35th while Murphy had a three-round total of 241 (79-84-78) and tied for 81st-place.
Austin Graham of UC Davis led his team to a first-place finish, with a three-round total of 865 (290-290-285), while he received medalist honors shooting 6-under-par 210 (72-70-68). The Redbirds finished ahead of fellow Missouri Valley Conference teams Northern Iowa (14th-place) and Evansville (15th-place).
Redbirds will travel to Broken Arrow, Okla., to compete in the ORU Shoot-Out at the Golf Club of Oklahoma Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 29-30.
