Feb. 11, 2011
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State men's golf team will head to San Antonio to compete in the first tournament of the spring season at the UTSA Oak Hills Invitational at Oak Hills Country Club on Monday and Tuesday.
The 54-hole, two-day event will feature 17 teams and the first 36 holes will be played Monday with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Play will continue on Tuesday with tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m. based upon results from the previous rounds.
"We're kicking off the spring season and getting right into the heat of competition," said Head coach Ray Kralis. "Going down to San Antonio, we will be seeing a number of teams that have had the benefit of the weather and we have to try to match their level of play."
Traveling to Texas for the Redbirds will be seniors Jeff Kellen and Will Cullen, junior Eric Meier, sophomore Ricky Heardon and freshman Wils Hawn.
"I'm looking for the team to take away some positives of how they physically play the game," Kralis said. "Mentally though, I'm looking for them to not miss a beat. I want them to step into the competition mentally, accepting the outcome and staying positive: I want them to grow in confidence as the day goes on, allowing them to impact what happens rather than letting negative results get in their heads."
The tournament field includes UTSA, Oklahoma, Air Force, Wichita State, North Texas, Kansas State, Baylor, Tulsa, Sam Houston State, Texas State, Southeastern Louisiana, Rice, Texas Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Iowa State and Stephen F. Austin.
