Feb. 18, 2007

Placida, Fla. - Illinois opened the 2007 spring season today in Florida, taking on Illinois State in a dual match at Coral Creek Country Club. In a match play format similar to the Ryder Cup, the Illini won the Tinervin Cup over the Redbirds by the score of 5½ to 3½.

The fourth annual spring match between the schools has been named the "Tinervin Cup" in honor of Jeff Tinervin, an Illinois State alumnus and supporter of both the ISU and Illinois golf programs. The Illini have now won all four Tinervin Cup match-ups over the Redbirds.

The event began with three two-player best-ball matches in the morning, each worth one point, followed by six singles matches in the afternoon, each also worth one point.

Illinois won two of the three best-ball matches, as the tandems of Patrick Nagle/Zach Barlow and Mark Ogren/Frank Alafoginis posted victories. Ogren, Alafoginis and Kyle Hosick recorded singles wins while Barlow halved his match as the Illini enjoyed a 3½ to 2½ advantage in singles.

"This was a good start to the season for our program," Illinois head coach Mike Small said. "The purpose of this event is to shake the rust off from winter, get back outside and play, help identify our lineup, and to compete as a team. We accomplished our goals, it's good to win the cup for the fourth straight year, and we appreciate the Tinervins' support and thank them for once again putting on a great event. Now it's time for our team to get ready for one of the biggest collegiate tournaments of the spring."

Illinois returns to the course Feb. 25-27 to participate in the Puerto Rico Classic.

4th Annual Tinervin Cup Results (Illinois def. Illinois State, 5½-3½)

Singles
Matt Miller, 70 (ISU) def. Patrick Nagle, 74 (ILL)
Ryan Brown, 80 (ISU) halved Zach Barlow, 80 (ILL)
Mark Ogren, 73 (ILL) def. Joe Emerich, 82 (ISU)
Kyle Hosick, 74 (ILL) def. Drew Miller, 79 (ISU)
Tommy Bliefnick, 77 (ISU) def. Andy Shiels, 80 (ILL)
Frank Alafoginis, 72 (ILL) def. Ben Murphy, 78 (ISU)

Two Player Best-Ball
Patrick Nagle/Zach Barlow (ILL) def. Matt Miller/Ryan Brown (ISU), 1-up
Mark Ogren/Frank Alafoginis (ILL) def. Ben Murphy/Joe Emerich (ISU), 4&3
D. Miller/Bliefnick (ISU) def. Hosick/Shiels (ILL), 1-up

All-Time Tinervin Cup Results
2004 - Illinois def. Illinois State, 9-0
2005 - Illinois def. Illinois State, 8-1
2006 - Illinois def. Illinois State, 5-4
2007 - Illinois def. Illinois State, 5½-3½