April 13, 2008

Results

URBANA, Ill. - Paced by junior Ben Murphy's third-place finish, the Illinois State men's golf team took sixth out of 11 teams at the Fighting Illini Spring Invitational, hosted by Illinois at the par-72, 7,118 yard Stone Creek Golf Club. Murphy carded a 6-over-par, two-round-total of 150 (76, 74) to finish just two strokes behind the individual leader.

Head coach Ray Kralis has been pleased with Murphy's play over the past several weeks.

"I was impressed with Ben's play in both rounds under tough conditions," Kralis said. "It is great to see him playing so well heading into the conference tournament."

As a team, the Redbirds recorded a two-round-team-total of 626 (316, 310). Two other ISU squad members finished the event in the top-25 as sophomore Tommy Bliefnick posted a two-round-total of 155 (76, 79) while finishing in a 13th-place tie, and redshirt sophomore Kyle Bragg posted a two-round-team-total of 157 (78, 79) on his way to a 23rd-place finish.

"I thought we would make a move in today's final nine holes after the way we finished yesterday, but we weren't able to get much going today," said Kralis. "Yesterday, we were one score away from being in contention, but today we lacked the team contribution that has proven successful over the past few weeks."

Tournament host Illinois won the team title by seven strokes over Southern Illinois. The Fighting Illini, who posted a two-round-team-total of 609 (309, 300), also claimed individual-medalist honors as Matt Hoffman tallied a two-round-team-total of 148 (75, 73).

Next on the slate for ISU is the 2008 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championships, being held Monday-Tuesday, April 21-22 at the Davenport Country Club in Davenport, Iowa. Tee times have yet to be announced.