LAREDO, Texas – In their first tournament of the 2026 spring season, the Illinois State men's golf team – led by senior TJ Barger's first day 139 (-3) – battled a strong field and are in seventh place through the opening 36 holes of the 54-hole event.
Tournament host and 50th-ranked Houston leads the way after a first-day score of 567, while Lamar (570), New Mexico State (571), North Texas (571), Tarleton State (574), and Wichita State (576) are just ahead of ISU's 577. Louisiana (578), UTRGV (578), Sam Houston (580), Troy (582), Houston Christian (xxx), and Wright State (597) rounded out the 13 schools in the field.
The Redbirds tee off on Tuesday for the final round of the 36-hole event, as the Birds are within striking distance of quickly climbing the tournament standings.
Barger's first day par-four score average of 3.86 is tied for the best in the field, and he heads into the final day of the tournament in a tie of fifth place overall. He opened his spring season with rounds of 71 and 70, as he had four birdies and 11 pars in his first round of the day, and he followed it up with five birdies and another 11 pars for his two-round 139 (-3). He had nine total birdies on the day, which is tied for the third-most of the golfers in the field.
Max Faucquez had rounds of 72 and 73 for his two-round 145, which has him tied for 25th with 18 holes to play in the tournament. He had three birdies and a tournament-high 28 pars for the 36 holes of the day.
Freshman Sam Ottwell and senior Pietro Pontiggia are tied for 49th in the tournament field, with a 36-hole 148, as Ottwell had rounds of 71 and 77, while Pontiggia was 76 and 72. Ottwell had four birdies and one of just six eagles on the day, while Pontiggia had five birdies. ISU's final golfer – Francis Bautista – finished with an eight-over 150 (+8) as he had eight birdies over his 36 holes.
