MADISON, Wis. – After a record-setting second round that propelled the Redbirds to the top of the standings with 18 holes to play, the Redbirds held onto their lead, securing the 2021 Badger Invitational title with a tournament score of 856 (-8), as ISU put four golfers inside of the top-10 in the tournament.
Illinois State becomes just the second school in tournament history to have claimed two team titles, as the 'Birds won the event during the 2018 season.
"It's not easy to win, and I am very proud of how the guys battled," said Redbird head men's golf coach Ray Kralis. "Not only is it tough to sleep on the lead, but it is also challenging to back up such a strong performance like we had in round two. We knew it was going to take 54 holes of effort, and our guys showed courage and guts. I can't wait for the next one!"
Behind the tournament single-round record score in the second round, ISU had a three-round team score of 856, finishing just ahead of Sam Houston (859), Cincinnati (960), and tournament host Wisconsin (867). Northern Illinois (868), Iowa State (870), High Point (874), Abilene Christian (876), Eastern Michigan (877), South Dakota State (881), Coastal Carolina (883), Augusta (885), Toledo (886), and Xavier (906) rounded out the 14 schools in the tournament.
Valentin Peugnet, behind his two-under 70 for the final round was the team's top finisher for the tournament with a three-under for the three rounds, placing fourth overall in the strong field. Andrew O'Brien tied for fifth individually with a two-under tournament, as Joe Hodgson and Parker Wisdom each tied for ninth with a one-under tournament score. Felix van Dijk was the Redbirds' fifth golfer on the weekend and tied for 61st in the tournament.
Peugnet started steady with three pars to open his round, before a bogey snapped the streak. After another par he birdied two of the next three holes – the par-five sixth hole and the par-three eighth hole – before a par sent him into the turn at one shot under par. A bogey to open the back nine dropped him to even par, and he stayed even with four straight pars, before back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th holes dropped him to his final total of 70 – his best round of the three-round tournament.
After a pair of pars to open play, Hodgson stumbled with a bogey and double bogey in back-to-back holes; however, three birdies in his last five holes sent him into the turn at even par. Over his back nine he had a half dozen pars, along with three bogeys to finish the round with a three-over 75.
Wisdom also shot a final-round 75, and it came via a front nine with five pars and four bogeys, before closing strong over the back nine with eight pars and a birdie, finishing three shots over par for the final round of the tournament.
O'Brien had three over-par holes in his first seven holes and was four over par at that point of the round, as he settled in with 10 consecutive pars. He closed his tournament with a bogey on the 18th hole, closing with a final-round 77.
van Dijk stumbled at the beginning of his round with a bogey, double bogey and triple bogey among his first five holes. He came back and made the turn to the back nine riding the heels of back-to-back birdies on the eighth and ninth holes. His back nine saw six pars and three bogeys to finish with a 79 on the final round.
The Redbirds return to action on Monday, October 11, when the team make the short trip to West Lafayette, Indiana, to compete at the two-day, three-round Purdue Fall Invitational hosted at the Kampen Course.
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