AKRON, Ohio – Illinois State sits in fifth place out of 17 teams after two rounds at the Firestone Invitational. Junior David Perkins and senior Trent Wallace lead the team shooting three-under par in the first two rounds. Illinois State is four-under par (287-285).
This season, through eight rounds, Illinois State has been at or under par in seven of those eight rounds, including those rounds today.
Perkins and Wallace are currently tied for 12thindividually after the first day at the par-72, 7,125-yard Firestone Country Club North Course. Wallace scored an even par in the first round, followed by three-under par in the second round. Perkins also shot even in the first round, including an eagle, and shot seven birdies to get three-under par.
Sophomore Andrew O'Brien also sits in the top 20 individual golfers, along with Perkins and Wallace after two rounds, tied for 18thout of 90 golfers, scoring two-under par. O'Brien's first round included six birdies.
Junior Joel Durnford shot an even par in the second round and finished the first day four strokes overpar (76-72). Durnford is tied for 48th. Senior David Rauer is 11 shots over par after day one of the tournament.
Host University of Akron sits one place above the Redbirds five-under par (286-285). Akron is tied for third with Furman. Ohio currently leads the tournament 12-under par (281-283) after the first two rounds.
"We salvaged something today when we didn't have our best stuff," coach Ray Kralis said. "Andrew's opening 67 was a huge lift, and Dave & Trent battled until the final putt giving us solid rounds in the morning and a couple big rounds in the afternoon. Joel struggled out of the gate but showed some toughness the rest of the way which we desperately needed." He continued, "We still have a long way to go, and we feel like we are in the hunt. It will take a strong team effort, but this group can deliver that."
The Redbirds will start the final round tomorrow when David Rauer tees off at 9:15 a.m. EST.
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