SAVOY – Geoff Lound had come so close too often this summer. He knew it was only a matter of time before he won a golf tournament.

He can thank his former Illinois golf teammate and roommate Bryan Rusin for making it possible.

Lound, who finished third at the UI Open after leading going into the final round, then claimed an alternate spot for the Illinois Open, joined Rusin in smoking the field with a record-setting 15-under-par 163 to win the UI Players Cup at the Orange Course Sunday. They were 9 strokes better than second-place finishers Ryan Moore and Clark Smith.

The winning mark breaks Paul Dalbey and Terry Kegley''s record score of 168 in 2001. The UI duo also shot a blistering 97 Sunday, which included nine holes of best-ball and nine holes of aggregate scoring (each player''s combined nine-hole score), to top Dalbey and Kegley''s 99.

"Both of us played real well, and we just followed the game plan," Rusin said. "Just don''t get overaggressive, keep it simple and don''t do anything stupid."

Lound and Rusin, both 2003 Illinois grads, shot 66 during Saturday''s scramble/alternate shot segment and led by a stroke ahead of Urbana teen-agers Ryan Cantrell and Rich Thompson. That was just a primer. Sunday, Lound and Rusin were unstoppable.

They carded a 31 for the front-nine best ball, then a 66 on the back. Lound shot a 65, and Rusin, who played two years of golf at Illinois, had a 68. Lound had eight birdies on the day, and Rusin had three and an eagle on the par-5 13th.

For Lound, finally getting a little something to show for the effort was a nice touch.

"I''ve played reasonably well the last few tournaments, but I just didn''t play well enough to win," said Lound, who will do an internship this fall at Urbana Country Club. "I played great today, and Bryan played real well. It''s always good to have someone there to pick you up when you''re not playing well. It just happened that we both played well."

It''s not surprising that Lound, who wrapped up a solid college career this spring, shot low. But Rusin was another story.

The Wheaton resident played only one round of golf in the 10 days leading up to the tournament. He spent eight weeks on crutches with an ankle injury during the spring and has played about five times since he was able to move on his own.

"I played really well for me, considering I haven''t played that much," said Rusin, who''s spending his summer caddying for some statewide women''s events.

Danville''s Moore and Rantoul''s Smith posted an 8-under 172 for the tournament, thanks to a 104 Sunday. Cantrell and Thompson finished fifth with a 1-under 179 after a 112 Sunday.

Veterans Jim Hopper and Bill Hobbs finished third with a 3-under 177, and Dustin and Nick Sloat were fourth at 2-under 178. Defending champs Jamie Fairbanks and Creg McDonald shot even-par 180.

Other flight winners: John Malloy and Bruce Farthing (first); Brad Atkinson and Jared Busboom (second); and Jerry Roberts and Dave Dowler (third).

You can reach Jeff Mezydlo at (217) 355-6633 or via e-mail at jmezydlo@news-gazette.com.