April 12, 2011
JONESBORO, Ark. -
Jeff Kellen continued to lead in the second round of the Red Wolf Intercollegiate at the Ridge Pointe Country Club Tuesday, as the senior finished the tournament with a four-under-par 140 (67-73), placing him in eighth. The Redbirds moved into 11th place, with a two-round 587.
"Jeff played another solid round," said head coach Ray Kralis. "He didn't catch all of the breaks, but he handled being right there in contention well and will certainly build off of that."
Sophomore Ricky Hearden stepped up his second-round play with a one-under-par 71, moving him from 81st place into a tie for 55th place. Hearden finished the two-rounds of play with a 149.
Battling back from a seven-over-par first round, Eric Meier shot a one-under-par 71 in the final round and moved from 86th place into 62nd.
After his first-round 74, Wils Hawn dropped two more strokes in the second round to bring his total to 150 (74-76) and placing him into a tie with Meier for 62nd place.
Parker Freiburg kept up the second-round improvement for the Redbirds, as the sophomore improved from his first-round 80 to a two-over-par 74. Freiburg finished tied for 81st place.
"Today was more of the team effort that we were looking for," Kralis said. "It was a disappointing tournament, but we have a better taste in our mouth after today."
Arkansas-Little Rock led the field of 18 teams, after firing a 10-under-par 566 (290-276). Meridian Community College's Brandt Garon took the individual title, with his nine-under-par 135 (66-69) final.
"It is going to be a quick turnaround going into Illinois, but at least this was a round we can feel a little bit encouraged by and take some confidence and build off of it," Kralis said. "We have to get out and be ready to go at Illinois. It's going to be a great field there, and we're going to need everybody to step up. It's the time of year where we take the positives as they are and learn what we can from them."
The Redbirds return to campus before competing against in-state rival Illinois at the Illini Spring Invitational in Urbana, Ill., Saturday. The Illini Invite will be the final competition for the Redbirds, before competing in the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship April 25-27.
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