McLean County Times

Men’s Golf Climbs Two Spots, Ties for Ninth at Desert Mountain Collegiate

In a tournament field that included two nationally ranked teams and a handful of high-major conference schools, the Illinois State Redbirds climbed two positions into ninth at the Desert Mountain Collegiate.

The Redbirds finished the tournament with a three-day 896 (298 – 302 – 296) to finish in a tie of ninth alongside Louisiana Monroe. The 'Birds finished ahead of Nebraska, UTEP, South Dakota State, Central Michigan, UConn, and DePaul, and just behind USC, Miami (Ohio), and Lipscomb. Nationally ranked Mississippi State (22nd) took home the top honors in the field, while Michigan placed second and 42nd-ranked Little Rock took third.

Alex McCulla led the Redbird golfers on the weekend, placing in a tie of 19th overall with a three-round 221 (75-71-75) with Valentin Peugnet tying for 24th with a 222 (75-76-71). Jack Paeglow (73-84-74) and Felix van Dijk (77-78-76) each tied for 64th with a three-round 231, while Parker Wisdom's three-round score of 233 (75-77-81) saw him place in a tie of 70th. Playing as an individual, Will Troy carded a 240 (74-82-84) for 84th place individually.

On Sunday the Redbirds closed out the remaining holes on the darkened shortened second round, while playing through for the remaining 18 holes to finish the tournament.

McCulla's second-round score of 71 was a stroke under par and included five birdies and 10 pars for his seventh under-par round of the season. He closed his day with a final-round 75 with a pair of birdies and 11 pars for the three-over-par final score.

The second round for Peugnet saw the senior finish with a four-over 76, including three birdies and nine pars to cover the middle round of the tournament. His final round opened with a pair of pars and a double bogey, and after four more pars he caught fire with two birdies, a par and an eagle dropping him from two over par to two under par after the four-hole stretch. He closed the remainder of his tournament with four pars, two bogeys and ended with a birdie to saw him finish with his 11th under par round of the year.

Paeglow, the team's leader in the opening round, struggled in the second round with an 84, as he had a birdie and nine pars on his second of three 18-hole circuits on the course. He bounced back in a strong way with a two-over 74 to close the tournament, a round that saw four birdies (including back-to-back on his 10th and 11th holes) and nine pars.

Redbird senior van Dijk closed up his second round, ending with a six-over 78, as he had two birdies and 11 pars during the round. He improved his final-round score by two strokes, closing with a four-over 76, as he had four birdies and eight pars during his final 18 holes.

Wisdom carded rounds of 77 and 81 to end the tournament, as his second round had a team-high five birdies and eight pars, while his final round of 81 had a birdie and nine pars.

Troy closed his tournament with a second-round 82 (+10) and a final-round 84 (+12), as he had a combined two birdies and 15 pars between the 36 holes.

The Redbirds return to action next weekend, when the squad travels to Lafayette, Louisiana, to compete in the Louisiana Classics Invitational hosted at the Oakbourne Country Club.

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