WASHINGTON, D.C. –With the second and final round of the Georgetown Intercollegiate complete, the Illinois State men's golf finished in third place with a team score of 598 (298-300). The Redbirds maintained their position in third place through both rounds, finishing just three strokes back of second place Rhode Island (595). Freshman Trent Wallace (72-78) and sophomore Zach Burry (77-73) finished the tournament with a pair of identical scores, as they led the way for the Redbirds.
After enduring a tournament with freezing temperatures and frost, head coach Ray Kralis described the positives the team will take into its break.
"We didn't get the four solid scores to make the move we wanted, but we were still right there in the end and finished the fall season on a positive note. It was good to be back in the hunt, and we'll be better because of the experience," Kralis said. "Coming up just short will also serve as positive motivation, heading into off-season preparation for next spring."
Wallace and Burry's consistent play throughout the two rounds of the tournament earned them both top-15 finishes on the individual leaderboard. Senior Tyler Gentilella (75-76), junior Kyle Meihofer (74-77), and junior Christian Crabill (77-74), finished just one stroke back of teammates Wallace and Burry, each carding an individual score of 151, and finishing tied for 21st place on the individual leaderboard.
In the 12-team field, Princeton finished in first, moving up five spots on the team leaderboard. Both Rhode Island (295) and Illinois State (298) held their spots in second and third, respectively, over the two-day, 36-hole tournament.
The Intercollegiate was the final tournament of the fall season for the Redbirds. ISU will be back in action for the spring season, beginning Feb.1, when Illinois State will compete in the Tinervin Cup at the Coral Creek Club in Placida, Florida against Illinois.
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