SAN DIEGO, Calif. – After the final round of the Barona Intercollegiate, the Illinois State men's golf team finished in ninth place, shooting a team score of 876 (293-294-289). Jordan Fahel and freshmen Jason Marrs and Zach Burry led the team in the final round, as the Redbirds scored their best team score of the tournament Tuesday.
Head coach Ray Kralis is taking many positives from the tournament, especially since most of the opponents were California universities and only three were from colder climates.
"Considering this is just our first stroke play event of the season, I am very encouraged by what I saw from the squad," Kralis said. "Zach's 69 today was a big round for us, and Jordan had another solid event as a Redbird. Jason provided a big lift this week as well and gave us a glimpse of the impact he can have."
Fahel finished the tournament tied 21st overall, carding a total of 215 (70-72-73), while Marrs closed out the tournament tied for 34th place, firing a 54-hole score of 219 (72-74-73). Burry scored a total of 221 (75-77-69), but it was his final round of 69 that helped the team climb from 10th to ninth place. Kyle Meihofer shot a total of 225 (79-71-75) and Tyler Gentilella finished at 228 (76-78-74).
Host San Diego State finished first in dominating fashion, shooting 31-under-par with a team total of 833 (276-284-273), while second place San Diego scored a 19-under-par 845 (278-283-284). Sacramento State (853) ended in third place, as UC Irvine (857) and UC Riverside (857) ended tied for fourth. Illinois State took ninth place ahead of San Francisco, UC Santa Barbara, Bowling Green State and South Dakota State.
Kralis knows this tournament means much more for the team than just how they finished in the standings.
"While you obviously compete against the field, at this stage of the season, I am more focused on how we do against ourselves when dealing with the highs and lows of tournament golf," Kralis said. "I am confident we are growing stronger mentally and emotionally based on what I saw over the past couple days and feel like we can keep build going forward."
The Redbirds will have two weeks off, as they prepare for the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate, February 23.
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