Aug. 1, 2011
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State men's golf team added Matt Solis to its roster for the 2011-12 season, as the Bettendorf, Iowa, native signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to join the Redbirds on campus in the fall.
Head men's golf coach Ray Kralis expects Solis to make an immediate impact on the program.
"I believe competition makes you stronger, and I look for Matt to challenge for a playing spot right away," Kralis said. "I am familiar with his game, having recruited him in high school, and like his strong competitive background and the fact that he has been a key part of winning programs for the last six years. He wants to have a big impact on our program, and he has shown he has the game and experience to do it."
Solis comes to Illinois State after competing two years at Indian Hills Community College. As a freshman at Indian Hills, he finished third in the nation before ending his sophomore season first in the nation. Solis finished ninth at the 2011 Waterloo Open and was a quarterfinalist at the 2010 Iowa Match Play Tournament. In 2010, he finished in a tie for 23rd place at the Iowa Open. Solis completed the 2009 Optimist International Junior Golf Championship in a tie for 20th place.
The junior transfer's golf success began at Bettendorf High School, where he was a First-Team All-Iowa selection as a senior with a seventh-place finish at the Iowa State Championships. Solis was also a second-team all-state selection as a sophomore and junior. During his four years of high school, he was a member of a team that won four state titles.
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