Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:12 PM CDT
Klinger, a 3-sport standout, to play golf at UIS
By MIKE MONAHAN, Staff Writer
mmonahan@jg-tc.com
SPRINGFIELD -- Arcola’s Mark Klinger, a three-sport athlete, has decided to play one sport as he is to play golf at the University of Illinois at Springfield.
In the fall Klinger led the Purple Riders to a Class 1A semifinal appearance for the first time since 1997 as Arcola finished with a 10-3 record under coach Jarod Kiger. At the same time Klinger competed on the Arcola-Arthur golf team where he finished in an eight-way tie for 24th place in the Class 1A state meet. This spring Klinger won the 400 meter dash and finished third in the 200 at the Little Okaw Valley Conference meet. Klinger went on to qualify for the state meet in the 400 where he finished 12th in the state with the second –best time in Arcola history 51.37 seconds.
“The biggest thing is that he can focus on one sport,” said UIS men’s and women’s golf coach Jay Davis, a Jacksonville Routt graduate. “He showed signs and flashes of brilliance and is an incredible student-athlete. He is a heck of a young man, a heck of a football player, a heck of track star and a heck of a golfer.”
UIS began its golf program last year and had five on the roster as the program didn’t start until June of 2007 after most golfers had decided where they were going. The Prairie Stars compete in the American Midwest Conference and are currently an NAIA school However that is changing as UIS is in the process of moving to the Division II level. The 2009-2010 school year is to be a probation year and starting in the 2011-2012 school year UIS should be competing fully at the D II level, possibly in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The school is to find out in October if they are to compete in the GLVC.
“It has been a goal of mine to play golf since I started high school,” said Klinger, who in seventh grade competed in the annual Meadowview/YMCA golf tournament, placing in a tie for first in his age group (13-15). “I started playing competitively when I was in junior high and have played since I was a little kid. When I was in high school I started to think about maybe I had a future in it.”
Klinger, who played golf during the first eight weeks of the football season had several weekends such as this one in September. Klinger was the individual LOVC champion who shot a one-over-par 73 at Ironhorse in Tuscola, helping the Knight-Riders to their second straight conference crown. This occurred a day after he completed 10-of-15 passes for 152 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in Arcola’s 32-12 win over Tri-County on its 75th Homecoming game.
Klinger said he looked at Millikin for golf.
“I had my heart set on playing golf,” said Klinger. “I had some small colleges interested in me for football (Eureka and Millikin).”
The days of playing in a football game one night and a golf tournament the next day are over.
“At times I wondered if football was affecting my golf game,” said Klinger. “Now I can get out and play. Football. I look at this as my next step. I really expect to rapidly improve. I have room for improvement. I will just be golfing a lot and we will see where I end up after four years.”
Klinger, who finished as Arcola’s all-time single season record holder for most passing yards in a season as he was 94-of-163 for 1,386 yards and 12 touchdowns, also rushed for 904 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Davis, a graduate of the University of Louisville, earned nine professional victories over a six-year career.
“He (Klinger) is a great young man and the ideal student athlete (an Illinois State Scholar),” said Davis. “Really when I go out recruiting I am looking for a good athlete. I can take a good athlete and train them. Knowing about Mark and talking to other people I decided to bring him for a visit. I think when he is focused on one sport he can do very well.”
Klinger, who plans on majoring in business, is to be one of six freshmen on the roster along with one transfer.
Klinger’s best round is an even-par 72, shot during a practice round at Ironhorse. In competition he shot a 72 at Angus Links in Windsor. Over the summer Klinger plans to compete in a few Central Illinois Junior Golf Tour stops and a few larger tournaments such as the Decatur Junior Open and the Country Collegiate Classic in Bloomington.
“Golf is more of an individual sport compared to football, which is a team sport,” said Klinger. “It will be nice this summer to focus on one thing and not be in a rush.”
Klinger, who is the first Arcola graduate to go on to play golf since Nick Suding (2002 graduate who played at Parkland is to go through freshman orientation this month and starts in August. The golf team has four tournaments in the fall before a full spring schedule.
“My dad (Mark Klinger) and my grandfather (also Mark Klinger) are the ones that helped me the most,” said Klinger. “They took me out at a young age. My dad had a lower handicap than me then. The Ironhorse professional instructors also helped me along the way.”
As a junior Klinger earned all-LOVC honors with an 81, good for second place, at Ironhorse as the Knight-Riders won the conference crown. Later Arcola advanced to the sectional with a second place finish at the Tuscola Regional at Ironhorse as Klinger was second on the team with an 82.
Last summer Klinger finished second in the CIJGT in the 16-18 age group with rounds of 79 and 81 at Eagle Creek.
Contact Mike Monahan at mmonahan@jg-tc.com or 238-6854.
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