Illinois State First Round Results
Golfweek Conference Challenge Leaderboard
Golfweek Conference Challenge Individual Leaderboard
Aug. 30, 2009
RIVERSIDE, Iowa - Illinois State senior Tommy Bliefnick fired a 3-under-par 69 and is tied for fourth place in the first round of the Golfweek Conference Challenge at the Blue Top Ridge Golf Club in Riverside, Iowa Sunday. The Redbirds find themselves alone in 11th place after a first-day score of 298.
Men's golf head coach Ray Kralis was happy with Bliefnick's performance, but knows his team will need much better individual performances to move up on the leaderboard.
"Obviously Tommy's 69 was a great round, with 15 pars and three birdies," Kralis said. "He was great all day and has himself in great position, it was key for the team. I feel pretty good about us being able to come back tomorrow. We've got to obviously make a move, this field is not going to back up to us. We need some other guys to step up and get a really solid team effort tomorrow and hopefully another standout individual performance or two."
Sophomore Eric Meir carded a 2-over-par 74 to put himself in a tie for 30th place and help his team stay in contention.
"I thought Eric Meier played awfully well," Kralis said. "He got off to a shaky start on both the front and the back nine but recovered really well to hang in there and give us a key 74."
Senior Kyle Bragg is tied for 55th place with a 5-over-par 77, senior Joe Emerich is tied for 60th place with a 6-over-par 78 and junior Drew North is tied for 62nd place after carding a 7-over-par 79.
Baylor leads the 15-team field with a first-round score of 280, Middle Tennessee State is in second-place with a score of 285 and Florida State rounded out the top-three, firing a 287.
There is a three-way tie for first place between Payne Gniewek of Baylor, Sebastian MacLean of Xavier and Jason Millard of Middle Tennessee State. All three shot a 4-under-par 68.
The second round will start with tee times at 8 a.m. Monday. Live stats will be available at Golfstat.com.
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