LONG GROVE, Ill. – Behind a top 10 finish from junior Max Faucquez – his first top 10 finish of the season and fourth of his career – the Illinois State men's golf team closed play at the inaugural Kemper Lakes Intercollegiate, hosted at Kemper Lakes Golf Course.
On a day when low scores were at a premium, Faucquez finished with a two-over 74, which was tied for the fifth-best score of the day, as he tied for sixth overall in the 78-person field.
Drake won the team title at the event with a 54-hole score of 886, while South Dakota (894), South Dakota State (901), Belmont (908), Morehead State (927), Valparaiso (929), and Loyola Chicago (933) finished just ahead of ISU's 934. Weber State (940), Central Michigan (944), Bellarmine (954), and Eastern Illinois (963) rounded out the 12 schools in the tournament field.
Faucquez had a trio of birdies and 10 pars in his final round, as he finished with a tournament score of 224, tied for sixth in the individual field. He averaged 4.13 strokes on the par-four holes on the course, which tied for the seventh-best par-four scoring average in the tournament.
Fernando Cobo Delgado tied for 21st overall individually, as he closed his tournament with a final-round 82 (one birdie, seven pars), and he closed with a 230 over the three rounds. Gonzalo Cuellar finished with a final-round 79, and he had a 233 for the tournament, placing in a tie of 32nd place as he had a birdie and nine pars over the final 18 holes.
Sam Ottwell was ISU's fourth golfer during the final round with an 84 as he had two birdies and seven pars, tying for 64th. Gabriele Bravin was the Redbirds' non-scoring golfer on the squad, and he had three birdies and three pars en route to his 88, and he tied for 74th in the tournament.
Playing as individuals, Aiden Cudney carded a final-round 77, including three birdies and 10 pars, finishing in a tie for 44th, while Rayden Tee had 10 pars in his third-round 83, tying for 68th.
The Redbirds jump right back into tournament play next Monday, when the team makes the short trek to West Lafayette, Indiana, to compete in the Purdue Fall Invitational, hosted at Kampen-Cosler Golf Course on the Purdue University campus.
