SILVIS, Ill. - Due to late afternoon thunderstorms, the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Golf Championship was delayed during the second round of play at the TPC Deere Run Golf Course. As it stands, the Illinois State men's golf team sits tied for first place with a first round team score of 297. Tyler Gentilella is in first place after firing par in the first round and through 13 holes in the second.
"The golf course is a great test, and the weather conditions were certainly a factor today," Head coach Ray Kralis said. "We can expect more of the same tomorrow, so we'll continue to emphasize patience and mental toughness. Tyler was solid all day, and he and Wils set the tone for us in the opening round with strong performances. We are gaining momentum collectively, and our depth from top to bottom works in our favor as everyone is making a contribution."
Battling windy weather conditions, Wils Hawn shot a 72 in the first round and is tied for 16th place on the individual leaderboard, after playing 11 holes in the second round. Jordan Fahel shot a 78 in the first round and is also tied for 20th place through 12 holes in the second round.
Josh Edison is also tied for 20th with Hawn and Fahel through 12 holes in the second round, after carding a 76 in the first. Parker Freiburg shot an 80 in the first round and currently sits tied for 25th place through nine holes in the second round.
Wichita State led the tournament in the first round with a team score of 291 and is currently tied with Illinois State halfway through the second round. Danny Mazrin from Bradley, Chandler Rusk from Wichita State and Northern Iowa's Glenn Walls are tied for second on the individual leaderboard through the in the middle of the second round.
"As a competitor, it doesn't get any better as we are right in the thick of it with one day to go at the conference championship," Kralis added. "This is what the preparation and hard work through the season are for, and our schedule, experiences, and development as a team this year have prepared us for what we will face tomorrow."
The Redbirds will return to the course Tuesday for an 8 a.m., shotgun start to complete round two and will begin the third and final round immediately following.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
