Sept. 24, 2000

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Senior Larry Nuger shot a 1-under par 143 to finish second at the Falcon-Cross Creek Invitational. Nuger shot a 71 on Friday and a 72 Saturday. A third and final round was scheduled for today, but a coaches vote cancelled the last day of the tournament due to cold, snowy weather. Ben Leestma of the host Air Force Academy was the individual winner with a 4-under 140 on the 72-par, 7,301-yard Eisenhower Blue Course.

The Illini finished fourth out of 24 teams with a two-round total of 595. The University of San Diego won the tournament with a team total of 585. Illinois finished higher than conference foe Wisconsin. The Badgers tied with Xavier for seventh. Both teams will be participating at the Northern Intercollegiate on Saturday in Urbana.

Sophomore Geoff Lound shot an even-par 72 in the second round to finish the tournament with a 148. The Australian tied for 14th place. Sophomore Evan Olson tied for 33rd with a two round total of 151. Senior Tim Riley finished with a 154 to tie for 52nd. In just his second collegiate tournament, newcomer Tony Peressini shot a tournament total of 155 to tie for 60th in the field of 119 participants.

The Illini hope for friendlier weather conditions as they host the Northern Intercollegiate at Stone Creek Golf Club in Urbana Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1. Illinois will play against 17 other teams, including eight Big Ten squads. Play begins from tees 1 and 10 at 7:15 a.m. Saturday with the second round teeing off at 12:15 p.m. The final round will be played at 8 a.m. Sunday.

Team Scores

1.    San Diego        287-298=585
2.    New Mexico       294-296=590
3.    UNC-Greensboro   296-298=595
4.    Illinois         298-297=595
5.    Weber State      293-303=596
6.    Idaho            296-305=601
7.    Wisconsin        297-305=602
      Xavier           290-312=602
9.    West Florida     294-311=605
10.   Air Force        298-308=606
11.   Grand Canyon     298-309=607
12.   Utah             301-312=613
13.   Texas Wesleyan   310-304=614
      Tulane           302-312=614
      New Mexico       303-311=614
16.   Air ForceJV-Blue 301-318=619
      Boise State      304-315=619
18.   Idaho State      311-311=622
19.   Eastern Wash.    311-312=623
20.   CO-Colo. Springs 305-319=624
21.   Southern Utah    314-313=627
22.   Utah State       301-329=630
23.   Gonzaga          315-323=638
24.   Air Force        323-318=641
     (JV-Silver)

Illinois Individuals

2     Larry Nuger    71-72=143
T14   Geoff Lound    76-72=148
T33   Evan Olson     77-74=151
T52   Tim Riley      75-79=154
T60   Tony Peressini 76-79=155