VERONA, Wis. – A strong opening round at the 2024 Badger Invitational held throughout, as the Redbirds are in second place in a field of 16 schools including a pair of Big Ten schools.
Leading the way for ISU is TJ Barger and Pietro Pontiggia who are each tied for third after 18 holes with a three-under 69, while Will Troy is tied for 11th with a two-under 70. Freshman Aiden Cudney was the team's fourth finisher after the first round with a two-over 74 which has him tied for 70th. Alex McCulla had a six-over 78, which is tied for 71st. Playing as an individual, Francis Bautista is tied for 47t with a three-over 75.
Tournament host Wisconsin leads the way in the tournament with a first-round 281, while the Redbirds are a stroke behind in second place with a six-under 282. Northern Illinois (283), Long Beach State (286), Washington State (288), Southern Miss (289), Memphis (290), Minnesota (292), South Dakota State (294), Nebraska (295), Southern Illinois (295), VCU (303), Ball State (304), Winthrop (304), Green Bay (305), and Western Kentucky (306) round out the remaining 14 schools in the field.
The Redbirds tee off starting at 11:10 a.m. with McCulla, while Cudney (11:20 a.m.), Troy (11:30 a.m.), Pontiggia (11:40 a.m.), and Barger (11:50 a.m.) to follow off the first hole, with Bautista teeing off on the 10th hole at 11:10 a.m.
Pontiggia got off to a fast start and was six strokes under par through his first nine holes with four birdies and an eagle, making the turn with a 30. He had two more birdies and five pars in his back nine, as he closed out the day with a three-under 69.
Barger also had a strong front nine, with four birdies four pars and a bogey, making the turn at three shots under par, and had seven pars, a birdie and a bogey on his back nine to remain three under throughout the remainder of the opening round.
Troy had a rocky start to his round with a bogey on his opening hole; however, rebounded quickly with a birdie on his second. Another bogey-birdie combo happened on the fifth and seventh holes, as he was at even par through the opening nine holes of the day. A birdie on the 10th hole dropped him to under par, as he added another birdie on the 16th to finish the day with a two-under 70.
Cudney had a tumultuous start to his day, as he opened with two pars and a birdie; however, a double bogey and bogey followed, of which he rebounded with two birdies and two pars to make the turn with an even-par 36. He opened his back nine with a birdie, and over the final eight holes he had six pars, a bogey, and a double-bogey to finish his day with a two-over74.
McCulla had two birdies and nine pars on his final round, finishing with a six-over 78.
As an individual, Francis Bautista had two birdies, a bogey, and six pars to be one shot under par through nine holes. His back nine had a birdie, five pars, and three over-par scores to finish with a three-over 75.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
