Feb. 27, 2010
Placida, Fla. -
For the seventh year in a row, Illinois is victorious in the Tinervin Cup, an annual dual match with Illinois State held at Coral Creek Golf Club in Placida, Fla.
Illinois defeated the Redbirds, 9-0 in a match that featured six single dual matches in the morning and fourball match play in the afternoon. The victory marked the first shutout in the Tinervin Cup since the first year of the event in 2004.
In the morning singles matches, the Illini got comeback victories from senior Matt Hoffman, senior Zach Barlow and freshmen Ross Frankenburg. Barlow (74) rebounded to defeat Kyle Bragg (76) of Illinois State by two strokes. Hoffman edged Eric Meir, 76-77 while Frankeberg downed Will Cullen by one stroke, 79-80.
The other singles matches featured Scott Langley defeating Tommy Bliefnick, 69-76; Luke Guthrie over Will Kellen, 74-83; and Chris DeForest over Joe Emerich, 68-79.
Illinois also won the afternoon fourball matches with relative ease. DeForest and Frankeberg defeated Cullen and Emerich, 5&4; Barlow and Hoffman downed Meir and Bragg, 5&4 and Langley and Guthrie defeated Bliefnick and Kellen, 4&3.
"What I liked most about today was how we finished in the afternoon," said Illinois head coach Mike Small. "We made a lot of birdies and closed down the stretch. We enjoy playing this event. It's something we look forward to. I feel good about where we are heading into our first stroke play tournament next week."
Morning Singles Matches
Langley (69) def Bliefnick (76)
Guthrie (74) def Kellen (83)
Barlow (74) def Bragg (76)
Hoffman (76) def Meir (77)
DeForest (68) def Emerich (79)
Frankenberg (79) def Cullen (80)
Afternoon Fourball Matches
DeForest/Frankenberg def Cullen/Emerich 5&4
Barlow/Hoffman def Meir/Bragg 5&4
Langley/Guthrie def Bliefnick/Kellen 5&3
Tinervin Cup History
2004 - Illinois 9, Illinois State 0
2005 - Illinois 8, Illinois State 1
2006 - Illinois 5, Illinois State 4
2007 - Illinois 5.5, Illinois State 3.5
2008 - Illinois 8, Illinois State 1
2009 - Illinois 8, Illinois State 1
2010 - Illinois 9, Illinois State 0
