DES MOINES, Iowa – The Illinois State men's golf team shot rounds of 281 and 290 on the first day of the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Championship, and the Redbirds are in second place, one shot below first-day leader Murray State.
Playing 36 holes on the day due to yesterday's round being postponed because of rain, Murray State's 570 narrowly edges out Illinois State's 571, while Belmont (581), Southern Illinois (585), Drake (586), Valparaiso (586), Northern Iowa (587), Bradley (596), Evansville (602), and Missouri State (613) chase behind the two leaders.
Pacing the Redbirds on the first day was TJ Barger, whose rounds of 68 and 73 (141, -3) have him tied for fifth place individually, four strokes away from the lead. Max Faucquez and Pietro Pontiggia are tied for eighth as each have a two-round 143 (-1), with Alex McCulla's even-par 144 has him in 12th place.
The Redbirds close out play at the 2025 Championship alongside Murray State and Belmont, on holes 1-6.
Barger had five birdies and a dozen pars in his opening round, as he closed his day with two birdies over his final three holes and went into the clubhouse with a four-under 68. In his second round he carded one of three eagles in the field on the par-five ninth hole, and he also had 14 pars on the round, finishing with the one-over 73.
Faucquez was not over par at any point in his first round, as he carded birdies on his second and fourth holes and had four total birdies and 13 pars over his opening-round 69 (-3), before coming back with another birdie and 14 pars on his second 18 holes for a two-over 74.
After opening his day with five consecutive pars, Pietro had a rocky nine-hole stretch in which he had five birdies, two pars, and two bogeys, and ended his day with 10 pars en route to a two-under 70. His second 18 had two birdies and 13 pars, closing with a one-over 73.
McCulla opened his day with nine consecutive pars; however, hit a rough stretch with three bogeys and four pars, pushing him to three shots over par. He countered with a birdie on his 17th hole of the day and closed the first round with a two-over 74. His second time through the course he had three birdies over his first eight holes and had 14 pars – including his last nine holes of the day – closing play in the second round with a two-under 70.
Will Troy opened his day with a five-over 77 in which he had a birdie and 11 pars, before coming back with two birdies and 11 pars during his opening day which has him tied for 39th overall.
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