MADISON, Wis. – Using a final-round-best score of 279, the Illinois State men's golf team climbed two spots into a runner-up finish at the 2025 Badger Invitational, hosted at TPC Wisconsin.
After an opening day that saw two lightning delays force the second round to remain unfinished, the Redbirds came out with a nine-under 279 on the day, finishing with a 13-under 851, which is the 17th-lowest team tournament score in program history.
Leading the way for the Redbirds on the final round was freshman Sam Ottwell, whose five-under 67 is tied for the second-lowest freshman round score in program history, behind only a 65 from Tyler Gentilella at the NYX Hoosier Invitational during the 2012-13 season.
Ottwell's three-round score of 212 (-4) is tied for the sixth-best tournament score by a freshman in school history, behind only Gentilella, Jerry Vidovic, David Perkins (at this same event during the 2016-17 season), and twice by Trent Wallace. His score is also the third-lowest in a Redbird freshman debut, behind only a 211 each from David Perkins and Trent Wallace in their collegiate-openers.
Southern Miss ran away with the team title with a 54-hole score of 841, while ISU and Southern Illinois were knotted with an 851. Toledo (859), Northern Illinois (861), VCU (864), Xavier (868), UTSA (871), Oakland (872), Minnesota (872), Wisconsin (883), Green Bay (894), DePaul (896), and Valparaiso (904) rounded out the 14 schools in the field.
Senior TJ Barger used a final-round 69 to finish with a 54-hole score of 208, which is tied for the 22nd-lowest tournament score in school history, as he was under par for each of the three rounds of the event. His final round had four birdies and 13 pars, and his 15 birdies over the 54 holes are tied for the second-most in the tournament.
Ottwell finished seventh in his first collegiate event, as his final-round 67 had six birdies and 11 pars for his near-freshman-record score.
After back-to-back even-par rounds to open the tournament, sophomore Max Faucquez ended the tournament with a one-under 71 and ends the tournament with a top-10 finish as he tied for 14th. Averaging a 3.83 score on par-fours, Fauzquez tied for the lowest par-four scoring total in the tournament field, while his 40 pars were tied for fourth-most over the 54 holes.
Senior Pietro Pontiggia was steady throughout the tournament with rounds of 73, 72, and a final-round 72 to finish with a three-round 217, one stroke over par for the 54 holes. His final-round 72 came via five birdies and eight pars, and his 15 birdies in the tournament are tied for the second-most in the field and was the fourth Redbird in the field to finish inside of the top-20 as he tied for 19th.
Gonzalo Cuellar used a final-round 72 – his lowest score of the tournament – while his 226 tournament score has him tied for 66th. Playing as individuals, Francis Bautista (225, tied for 62nd) and Aiden Cudney (239, 84th) rounded out the seven ISU golfers in the tournament field.
ISU next hits the course again on Monday, October 13, when the Redbirds travel east to West Lafayette, Indiana, to compete in the Purdue Fall Invitational at the Kampen-Cosler Course.
