LAREDO, Texas – Opening their 2026 spring season at the Border Olympics in Laredo, Texas, the Illinois State men's golf team climbed two spots into a tie for fifth place in the strong field at the event.
TJ Barger led the way for ISU, ending fourth in the individual tournament field, finishing with a 54-hole score of 210 (-3).
Tournament host and 50th-ranked Houston took home the team title with a two-under 850. Tarleton State (852), North Texas (852), and Wichita State (859), finished just ahead of ISU's 861, alongside New Mexico State and Lamar. Louisiana (866), UTRGV (874), Houston Christian (876), Troy (877), Sam Houston (878), and Wright State (902) rounded out the 13 schools in the tournament.
The Redbirds have a quick turnaround to their next tournament, as the team competes again on Sunday, February 22 through Tuesday, February 24 at the Dorado Beach Collegiate, hosted at TPC Dorado Beach – Sugarcane in Dorado, Puerto Rico.
Barger had four birdies and eleven pars over his final round, and he had 13 birdies over his 54 holes, tied for the fourth-most in the tournament field. The top-10 finish is his fifth in his six tournaments this season, and he has 14 rounds at or under par in 18 rounds.
Max Faucquez, who had the most pars in the tournament, ended the tournament with a two-over 73, and his five-over 218 is tied for 27th-best individually. In his final round he had two birdies and a dozen pars.
Samuel Ottwell finished a shot under par in the third round, dropping him into a tie with Faucquez for 27th place individually. Ottwell had two birdies and 15 pars in the round, and he finished with a three-round 218.
Francis Bautista also finished under par on the round with three birdies and 13 pars, ending the 54 holes with a seven-over 220, finishing in a tie for 40th. Pietro Pontiggia carded a five-over 76 in the last round of the tournament, as he had three birdies and nine pars, placing 54th.
