Feb. 26, 2011
PLACIDA, Fla. -
The Illinois State men's golf team was unable to gain an upper hand on No. 7 Illinois Saturday, as the Redbirds fell to the Illini 8.5-0.5 in the Tinervin Cup at the Coral Creek Club in Placida, Fla.
Ricky Hearden and Wils Hawn put the Redbirds on the board with a half point after tying with Illinois' Thomas Pieters and Chris DeForest during the morning's four-ball rounds.
Parker Freiburg and Drew North fell to Jonathon Hauter and Mason Jacobs, four-and-two, as Jeff Kellen and Eric Meier lost to Scott Langley and Luke Guthrie, one down, to close out the morning rounds.
Despite the ninth-straight loss to the Illini, head coach Ray Kralis feels the quality of play was a step forward.
"The morning matches were very competitive with two of the three matches capable of going either way coming down to the final hole, and overall, I was pleased with the way we played and carried ourselves," Kralis said. "While we struggled some collectively in the afternoon, we played like a top-10 team and created separation in the match. While the final tally was quite lopsided, I am a firm believer that great competition makes you better, and I know we will draw positives from this experience that will help us as the spring continues."
In the afternoon's 18-hole singles matches, Hauter defeated Freiburg, 74-75, Jacobs closed out North, 74-88, Pieters out played Hearden, 75-80, DeForest bested Hawn, 71-76, Langley out shot Kellen, 70-78 and Guthrie beat Meier, 69-79.
The spring season continues for the Redbirds March 7, as ISU travels to Little Rock, Ark. for the Samford Intercollegiate.
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