Feb. 21, 2011
Mobile Bay Day One Results in PDF Format 
MOBILE, Ala. -
The Illinois State men's golf team struggled in day one of the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate at the Magnolia Grove Golf Course in Mobile, Ala., Monday, as the Redbirds dropped to 14th place after carding a 40-over-par 616 (309-307).
Uncontrollable elements seemed to plague the `Birds' outlook throughout the first two rounds, and head coach Ray Kralis looks to the team's mental game for a turnaround in day two.
"I can accept higher scores when you give it your best, especially early in the spring after the winter break, but I have no patience for defeated body language and a lack of mental toughness that some of our guys displayed today."
Jeff Kellen leads the Redbirds after battling back from a high first round, to finish the day with a seven-over-par 151 (77-74), and tied for 35th place. Fellow senior Will Cullen fell from 30th to a tie for 47th after the second round, he now sits two strokes behind Kellen with a nine-over-par 153 (75-78).
Eric Meier (78-80) and Wils Hawn (83-75) both shot a 14-over-par 158 and tied for 68th place. Ricky Hearden finished the day with a 16-over-par 160 (79-81), and tied for 78th place.
"The game of golf challenges you nearly every time out, and you can't let things get in your head, particularly if they are out of your control," Kralis said. "Being mentally tough just some of the time does not cut it against the competition we face, and if we are only as strong as our weakest link, then we have some work to do over the next couple of months. We must learn some lessons from this and make improvements tomorrow."
Illinois State is ahead of Troy by nine strokes, and follows Louisiana-Lafayette and South Alabama in 12th place, by nine strokes.
Troy trails ISU by nine strokes, as the Redbirds follow Louisiana-Lafayette and South Alabama by nine strokes.
Middle Tennessee State's Jason Millard (70-72) and Kentucky's Chase Parker (73-69) share first place after both fired a two-under-par 142.
Middle Tennessee State leads the field with a five-over-par 581 (292-289).
The Mobile Bay Intercollegiate continues Tuesday at 8 a.m. Results will be available at the conclusion of the third round.
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