GULF SHORES, Ala. - Illinois State heads to south Alabama for the three-day Craft Farms Intercollegiate, hosted by both Eastern Michigan and South Alabama in the final southern trip for the squad in the 2022-23 season.
Event: Craft Farms Intercollegiate
When: Sunday, March 26 - Tuesday, March 28
Where: Craft Farms - Cotton Creek Golf Course // Gulf Shores, Ala.
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,127
Live Scoring: GolfStat.com
Participants (Golfstat Rankings): Oral Roberts (104), Illinois State (105), Texas State (115), South Alabama (117), Loyola Maryland (137), Rice (139), Georgia State (154), Tennessee Tech (155), Western Kentucky (165), Samford (185), Oakland (201), DePaul (203), Bradley (232), Southern Indiana (N/E)
Redbird Lineup (tee time off of 1st hole, a.m.):Â Pietro Pontiggia (7:40), Jack Paeglow (7:49), Parker Wisdom (7:58), Alex McCulla (8:07), Valentin Peugnet (8:16), Individual: Will Troy (8:10 off of 2nd hole)
History at the Event: This season's tournament is the fourth consecutive tournament at the Craft Farms - Cotton Creek Golf Course, as the Redbirds' top finish came during the 2021 season when the squad finished eighth of 13 schools.
2022: 10th / 13 (304 - 289 - 289 -- 882)
2021: 8th / 13 (292 - 294 - 303 -- 889)
2020: t-9th / 14 (294 - 287 - 284 -- 865)
Last Time Out: In a strong field with eight teams ranked inside of the top 100 in the Golfstat National rankings, the Illinois State men's golf team placed eighth overall at the 38th Annual Louisiana Classics. Alex McCulla shot an even-par 71 over his final 18 holes in a round in which he had a trio of birdies, three bogeys, and a dozen pars. His three-round total of 223 was the second highest on the team and tied for 19th in the tournament field. Felix van Dijk's third-round 76 – five strokes over par – had a birdie and 13 pars to finish the tournament as the team's highest finisher. His nine-over 222 is the 15th best score in the tournament - and was later named MVC Golfer of the Week.
About the Course: Featuring rolling fairways and large undulating greens, Cotton Creek at Craft Farms Golf Resort is very playable from the forward tees and a true championship challenge of over 7,000 yards from the tips. True to its Palmer design, this traditional 18-hole masterpiece was laid out to challenge rather than intimidate, with numerous risk/reward opportunities throughout. Golf Digest has consistently rated Cotton Creek as one of the Best Places to Play! This four-star course, located in Gulf Shores, Alabama, features tree-lined, rolling fairways surrounded by lakes. The lush course is challenging for low handicap players but with five staggered tee boxes, it is a fun challenge for golfers at any level.
