MVC Preseason Release

Missouri State has been picked to finish seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference men's golf race in a preseason vote of the league coaches in voting released by the conference office Thursday (Feb. 16). The Bears, who've finished fifth the last two seasons, tallied 43 points in the voting, just one less than sixth-place Northern Iowa.

Illinois State collected nine of a possible 10 first-place votes and 99 total points, with Valparaiso picking up the other first-place vote and 91 points. Defending champion Southern Illinois is picked for third with 80 points and Valley newcomer Belmont fourth with 69 points. Bradley (52) is fifth, followed by UNI (44), the Bears (43), Murray State (34), Drake (28) and Evansville (10).

If the Bears are to outdo the coaches' expectations or claim their second Valley title, they'll likely be paced by two-time all-conference player Max Kreikemeier, a senior from Chesterfield, Mo. Kreikemeier led the team in the fall with a 71.57 scoring average and will be looking to become just the third three-time all-conference honoree in school history.

MSU went 1-2 last week at a spring-opening match-play event, the Carpenter/Chaney Classic in suburban Orlando. The Bears are idle this week, but back in action at the Loyola Intercollegiate in Goodyear, Ariz., Feb. 26-28.