Sept. 5, 2008
NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. -
The Illinois State men's golf team will kick-off its 2008-09 season next Monday and Tuesday (Sept. 8-9) in the 2008 Fairway Club Invitational at ArborLinks Golf Course. The two-day event will feature 12 teams and a 54 hole format, with 36 holes scheduled for Monday and 18 holes slated for Tuesday.
The Redbirds finished the 2007-08 season with a third-place finish in the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship. The Birds' were led by junior Tommy Bliefnick, who shot even-par to finish in third place at the Davenport Country Club.
Head coach Ray Kralis is proud of his team and is excited about the upcoming season.
"The guys all worked hard and played well over the summer and we hope to carry that over into the season," said Kralis. "Our team has experience and we expect to compete week in and week out throughout the season."
The Redbird lineup will include Bliefnick, Kyle Bragg, Joe Emerich, Jeff Kellen and Ben Murphy. Will Cullen will compete individually.
The Fairway Club Invitational field includes Army, Butler, Kansas, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, South Dakota State, Texas Pan-American and Western Illinois. The Missouri Valley Conference teams competing are Creighton, Drake and Missouri State.
Creighton finished in eighth-place at last year's State Farm MVC Championship, and was led by John Sutko, who finished in 12th-place. Luke Joy finished tied for sixth at the 2007 conference championship, and led the Drake Bulldogs to a fourth-place finish, while Missouri State finished tied for sixth-place, and was led by Jack Courington, who finished tied for 13th.
Nebraska has won the last two Fairway Club Invitationals.
There will be a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. on both days.
