KETTERING, Ohio – Behind an opening-round 285, the Illinois State men's golf team shot a first-day score of 575 and are in second place heading into the final round of the tournament.
The Redbirds are four strokes behind first-day leader Butler's 571 and tied alongside tournament host Dayton. Trailing the trio include Ball State (582), Toledo (583), Loyola-Chicago (584), Wright State (586), DePaul (587), Ohio (593), Cleveland State (596, Oakland (602), and Marshall (605).
Leading the way for the Birds over the first 36 holes as senior TJ Barger, who had rounds of 73 (+2) and 69 (-2) to sit at even par and tied for eighth among the golfers in the tournament. He had three birdies and 10 pars over his first time around the par-71 course, with four more birdies and a dozen pars for his under-par second round.
Sophomore Max Faucquez is tied for 13th after two rounds, opening with an even-par 71 and following with a one-over 72. Over the day he had four birdies and 27 pars and is just a stroke behind Barger.
Chasing Barger and Faucquez is the duo of Francis Bautista and Pietro Pontiggia whose 145 and 146, are tied for 16th and 21st, respectively. Bautista opened with a one-over 72 while following with a two-over 73, as he had six birdies on the day. Pontiggia had six birdies over his opening 18 holes for a one-under 70 and added a seventh birdie on the day on his second round 76.
 Freshmen Samuel Ottwell and Gonzalo Cuellar are tied for 45th and 75th, respectively. Ottwell opened with a one-over 72 on the first round with two birdies and 14 pars, while adding three birdies and six pars in the second round for a 78. Cuellar, playing as the team's individual in the tournament, had rounds of 81 and 78 on the day.
ISU will close the tournament – and their 2025 fall season – on Tuesday morning starting at 7:45 a.m. alongside Butler, Dayton, and Ball State.
