SIMPSONVILLE, Ky. – Illinois State seniors Trent Wallace and David Rauer completed their first round of play at the 2019 NCAA Louisville Regional. Wallace stands in a tie for 53rd overall, while Rauer is tied for 67th.
The pair are two of just 10 individuals competing in the championship. One individual golfer will advance to the NCAA Championships, and the person will be the top individual finisher that is not advancing with his team.
Wallace, like nearly the entire field, struggled on the 453-yard par-four first hole, as the Joliet native recorded a bogey. He came back strong; however, with three consecutive pars before dropping another stroke on the par-four fifth hole. He immediately answered with a birdie on the 353-yard par-four sixth hole and added another birdie on the par-three eighth hole to take an even par score of 35 into the turn.
The back nine got off on the wrong foot as Wallace recorded a double-bogey on the par-four 10th hole, and a bogey on the 12th pushed him to three strokes over par. He answered with a birdie on the par-five 13th hole, and another par on the 14th kept him at two strokes over par. Back-to-back bogeys on the 15th and 16th holes pushed him to four strokes over par; however, he closed with back-to-back pars to head into the clubhouse with a four-over 75 on the opening day.
Like Wallace, Rauer struggled on the opening hole, recording a bogey and rebounded with five consecutive pars to remain at one stroke over par through six holes. A triple-bogey seventh hole pushed him to four strokes over par for the round, where he stayed through the turn.
After back-to-back pars to open the back nine, Rauer had a stretch of four bogeys over five holes to push him to eight strokes over par. He closed strong; however, with a birdie on the par-five 17th hole and a par on the 18th hole.
The Redbirds head back out to the course on Tuesday with Rauer teeing off at 9:20 a.m. and Wallace two groups later at 9:42.
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