BATH, Mich. – With a stronger wind on the links-style golf course, the Illinois State scores rose accordingly; however, did not drop a spot and head into the third and final day of the 2023 NCAA Bath Regional in 12th place overall.
Redbird freshman Pietro Pontiggia was the team's low scorer on the round, finishing with a one-over 72, while Felix van Dijk finished two over par with a 73. Valentin Peugnet and Alex McCulla shot rounds of 75 and 76, respectively, while Parker Wisdom carded an 82.
Georgia, ranked 34th in the country and the first day leader, once again led the field with the lowest round on the day, and the teams' 540 leads the field with 18 holes to play in the tournament. Illinois – ranked third in the country – is second with a 550 while #22 Oregon stands third, matching Georgia's score on the day, and have a two-round 553. Texas – ranked 15th – are fourth with a 556 while tournament host Michigan State stands in the fifth spot with a 564. Five nationally ranked teams follow, including #27 Kansas State (564), #10 Florida (564), #50 Little Rock (569), #39 Liberty (573), and #46 San Diego (574), along with Wisconsin (575) are just ahead of Illinois State's 584.
The Redbirds tee off on Wednesday for the third and final round of the regional starting at 8:55 a.m. CT.
Pontiggia opened his day with seven consecutive pars before a bogey and par sent him into the turn at one stroke over par. He led off his back nine with a birdie which was followed by two bogeys over a three-hole span to push him to two strokes over par. He closed strong on the day with a birdie and four pars to finish with a one-over 72.
van Dijk had a slow start to his day with two pars, a bogey and a double bogey before he carded one of 15 eagles in the tournament's first two days on the par-five 14th hole. A birdie on his ninth hole (the 18th hole on the course) put him at even par at the turn. He stayed at even par through the first three holes of the back nine before he carded back-to-back bogeys before closing with four pars to finish with a three-over 73.
Peugnet was one under par through his first seven holes on the day with six pars and a birdie on the par-five 14th hole. A bogey on the par-three 17th hole pushed him back to even par, where he stayed through his first four holes of the back nine, however he finished with a triple bogey, birdie, par, and back-to-back bogeys to end the day with a four-over 75.
McCulla had one birdie on the day – on the par-four third hole – along with 14 pars to finish the middle round five over par with a 76. Wisdom – a day after setting a collegiate career-best – had nine pars and nine over-par scores en route to a second round 81.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
