ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Illinois State men's golf team was chosen as the unanimous favorite to win the 2021 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Golf Championship, in a pre-championship poll of league coaches.
The Redbirds earned all nine first-place votes and 81 total points in the poll. Southern Illinois was picked as the runner-up with 66 points, while Valparaiso (53) and Drake (48) rounded out the top four. Loyola (47), Missouri State (43), UNI (26), Evansville (23), and Bradley (18) round out the nine schools in the field.
According to GolfStat, the Redbirds' national ranking of 114 is the top in the conference, and ISU is followed by Southern Illinois (169), Valparaiso (178), Missouri State (204), Loyola (220), Drake (225), Evansville (236), UNI (251), and Bradley (259).
This season the Redbirds are led by David Perkins, the reigning MVC Golfer of the Year, who averages 71.7 strokes per round in 18 rounds. Of his 18 rounds, 11 of his scores have been at par or better, and he has three top-10 finishes in his six total events. Each of Illinois State's eight golfers average fewer than 76 strokes per round, as seniors Andrew O'Brien (74.3) and Dan Anfield (74.4) are second and third on the squad.
This year's championship will be played at Flossmoor Golf Club, a par-72, 7,070-yard course in Flossmoor, Ill. Teams will play 36 holes on Monday, April 26, and conclude with 18 holes on Tuesday, April 27. Monday's shotgun start begins at 9 a.m. CT (weather permitting). And Tuesday's round begins at 8:30 a.m. with staggered tee times. The MVC's 54-hole tournament champion will advance to the NCAA Regionals. Live scoring will be provided by GolfStat.
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