LAREDO, Texas – Through 35 holes, Illinois State stands in fifth place in a loaded field at the 2021 Border Olympics, as the second round was halted because of darkness, with the Redbirds finishing six shots over par through the first 17 holes of the second round.
Nationally ranked Texas A&M (26th) is in the top spot in the field seven strokes over par, as ninth-ranked Texas is alone in second place at six strokes over par. Tournament host Houston is in third place, seven strokes over par. Sam Houston is directly behind Houston at eight strokes over par, while the Redbirds at 12 strokes over par and stand fifth. UTSA (+15), 43rd-ranked Kent State (+18), and 13th-ranked Baylor (+19) are just behind Illinois State in the standings.
Playing as a group of five because of COVID protocols, the Redbirds were led by senior David Perkins, who is even one stroke over par through the stoppage and tied for 11th place individually. Andrew O'Brien is tied for 22nd at four strokes over par, while Joe Hodgson and Dan Anfield are both five strokes over par, tied for 26th. Felix van Dijk, the team's fifth competitor in the tournament, is eight strokes over par, and tied for 50th overall.
"This golf course is tricky and capable of biting all throughout the round," said ISU head coach Ray Kralis. "There are some demanding tee shots, and all of the green complexes have a bunch of movement. Angles into the greens are important, and then the real work begins. The guys carried themselves well today and handled adversity in stride. We are getting contributions from everyone, and I believe we'll be locked in tomorrow."
After the opening 18 holes, the team was led by a pair of seniors in Perkins and O'Brien, as each finished even par over the first 18 holes. Perkins' round – which started on the ninth hole – consisted of four birdies, four bogeys, and 10 pars, including a three-hole stretch where he birdied the 16th hole, had a par on the 17th, and birdied the 18th hole. Two bogeys on the back nine pushed him to a stroke over par; however, he closed strong with a birdie on his final hole of the round to stay at even par for the round.
O'Brien had two birdies, two bogeys and 14 pars over his opening round, including birdies on his seventh and 12th holes of the day.
Hodgson opened his day with back-to-back birdies before an eight-hole stretch in which he had six pars and a pair of bogeys to even his score at even par. A birdie on the course's first hole dropped him back to under par; however, he answered with a par and a double-bogey, before closing his round with five straight pars to end the round with a one-over 73.
Anfield had an up-and-down opening round, as the senior saw a trio of birdies, nine pars, four bogeys and two double-bogeys, including a stretch in the middle of his round where he had a birdie on the par-four 16th hole, back-to-back pars, and then another birdie on the 584-yard par-five first hole.
Sophomore van Dijk also had a tumultuous opening round with four birdies, six pars, six bogeys and a pair of plus-bogey holes en route to his seven-over 79.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
