Oct. 27, 2009
Final Stats
LAS CRUCES, N.M. -
Illinois State men's golf head coach Ray Kralis was hoping to end the fall season on a strong note. Unfortunately, the Redbirds dropped three places on the final day of the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate. The `Birds finished in 10th place in the 17-team field after posting a 5-over-par 857 (288-280-289).
"It's a disappointing finish to our fall season," Kralis said. "We backed up a little bit and didn't get that team effort we had hoped for. Unfortunately with the caliber of the field that was here, one or two shots can mean a whole lot and we finished five shots out of the fifth spot. To play the kind of golf that we want to play, and be the kind of team we want to be, we need strong team efforts and we need to improve on that as we go into the spring."
Senior Tommy Bliefnick fell from second place to finish tied for 15th after he fired a 3-under-par 210 (68-67-75). Sophomore Eric Meier moved up into a tie for 30th place as he posted a 1-over-par 214 (72-71-71). Senior Kyle Bragg and junior Jeff Kellen completed their tournaments in a tie for 56th place as each carded a 7-over-par 220. Junior Will Cullen tied for 82nd place with a 13-over-par 226 (75-73-78).
UNLV took the team title after firing a 23-under-par 829 (272-279-278). Washington State finished in second with a 15-under-par 837 (277-275-285). Kansas State rounded out the top three carding a 9-under-par 843 (283-275-285).
Derek Ernst of UNLV and Timothy Madigan of New Mexico State tied for first place after each posted a 9-under-par 204. Kevin Penner of UNLV took third with an 8-under-par 205 (66-71-68).
"I have a strong belief in what this team is capable of," Kralis said. "The expectations were so high, there is so much talent on this team and I don't think we lived up to that as a team yet, but fortunately for us we're only half way through."
The Redbirds begin their spring season February 15-16, 2010 at the Roadrunner Intercollegiate in San Antonio, Texas. The two-day tournament will be held at the Oak Hills Country Club.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, TRC gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
