Horton Pool | Illinois State University Athletics
Horton Pool | Illinois State University Athletics
The Illinois State men's golf team is set to participate in the NCAA Regional in Urbana, Illinois. The event, hosted by the University of Illinois, will take place at the Atkins Golf Club Course from May 12 to 14. The announcement was made by the NCAA.
The 136th-ranked Redbirds will compete against a lineup of prominent teams including Oklahoma State, ranked second nationally, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas Tech, and others. The field comprises 13 teams in total.
This appearance marks Illinois State University's first trip to the NCAA Regionals since 2022, when they competed in Bath, Michigan. It is the fifth time the team has qualified for the Regional, with previous appearances in 2022, 2007, 2005, and 2002.
ISU secured their place in the regional tournament by winning the 2025 MVC Crown, overcoming a one-stroke deficit in the final round to clinch the tournament by a margin of three strokes.
The team has been led by TJ Barger, an Illinois transfer, who has an average of 72.9 strokes per round. Other key players include Alex McCulla, averaging 73.1, Will Troy at 74.1, and Pietro Pontiggia with 74.6. Barger and McCulla have both earned spots on the All-Missouri Valley Conference team.
Further information on Illinois State athletics, including tickets and merchandise, can be found on GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App.
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