LAFAYETTE, La. – In a strong field that features three teams ranked inside of the Golfstate Top-50, the Illinois State Redbirds stand in eighth place of 14 schools at the 38th Annual Louisiana Classics.
ISU's rounds of 304 and 298 give the 'Birds a 602, just behind Texas State (598) and Denver (600). Nationally ranked Texas A&M (15th) leads the field with an 11-over 579, while Sam Houston (584), 32nd ranked Little Rock (587), 47th ranked LSU (591), Louisiana (593) rounds out the top five in the tournament. Michigan (607), UTSA (608), New Orleans (608), New Mexico State (611), SMU (611), and Louisiana Tech close out the 14 teams in the field.
Felix van Dijk leads the Redbirds and is tied for ninth after the first 36 holes with a 146. Alex McCulla is tied for 33rd with a 152, and Parker Wisdom's 154 has him tied for 49th. Pietro Pontiggia is tied for 54th with a 155 with Valentin Peugnet rounding out the five Redbirds in the field with a 162 and is tied for 78th.
Redbird senior van Dijk used three birdies and a dozen pars in the first round to finish with a one-over 72, which he followed up with three birdies and nine more pars for a three-over 74.
McCulla opened the day as the team's fifth golfer in the first round with a nine-over 80, but rebounded with a strong final round, finishing with a one-over 72 with 13 pars and two birdies over his final 18 holes.
Wisdom's opening round of 79 saw him finish the opening 18 holes eight strokes over par; however, at the turn between the rounds he bounced back with a four-over 75 with a birdie and a dozen pars.
Pontiggia started his day with a seven-over 78 – a round that saw him with two birdies and nine pars, and followed with another birdie and 11 more pars for his final-round 77 to finish the day 13 strokes over par over the 36 holes.
Over the first 18 holes Peugnet shot a four-over 75 with four birdies and eight pars, and came back with another birdie six additional pars to close his day.
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