McLean County Times

The Illinois State Redbirds men's golf team improved their position during the first day of competition at Fort Collins Country Club in Colorado, heading into the final round with hopes for a strong finish.

TJ Barger and Pietro Pontiggia led the team's efforts. Barger recorded a two-round total of 142 (+2), tying him for 16th place after 36 holes. He opened with a one-under-par 69, tallying four birdies and 11 pars, then followed with a three-over 73 that included another birdie and 13 pars. Pontiggia finished his first round at three-over-par 73, notching one birdie and 13 pars. In the afternoon round, he shot an even-par 70 with four birdies and ten pars, moving up 13 spots on the leaderboard to tie for 23rd place.

Tournament host Colorado State leads after two rounds with an even-par score of 560 on the par-70 course. Other top teams include Long Beach State (561), Utah Tech (563), Utah Valley (566), UC San Diego (567), and Weber State (567). The Redbirds are at 587, trailing Denver (579), UC Davis (579), and Sacramento State (580). They are also looking to stay ahead of Cal State Fullerton (588), UC Santa Barbara (590), Wichita State (593), CSU Northridge (602), Utah State (603), and Wyoming (605).

Francis Bautista is tied for 64th place after posting a combined score of 151 (+11) over two rounds. He rebounded from an opening-round 79 to shoot a second-round 72, collecting four birdies in total.

Sophomore Max Faucquez scored an eagle—the only one for Illinois State during the day—on his 35th hole of the tournament. His overall score is at 153 (+13), placing him in a tie for 76th; he also had four birdies throughout play. Aiden Cudney is tied for 78th after rounds of 79 and 75, adding two more birdies to the team's tally.

Sixteen schools are participating in this tournament. The Redbirds will return alongside their competitors on Friday for the third and final round.

"TJ Barger led the way for ISU in the first round with a one-under 69, using four birdies and 11 pars, before coming back with a three-over 73 as he added a fifth birdie on the day and 13 more pars."

"Pontiggia finished his first time around the course with a three-over 73 with a birdie and 13 pars, before coming back in the afternoon round with an even-par 70, which included four birdies and ten pars to climb thirteen spots individually."

"Francis Bautista put together a thirty-six-hole score of one hundred fifty-one, which is eleven shots over par, as he is tied for sixty-fourth. He had an opening round of seventy-nine, which he followed with a seventy-two, as he had four birdies over thirty-six holes."

"Sophomore Max Faucquez had the team's only eagle on the day – on his thirty-fifth hole of the tournament – and his one hundred fifty-three (+13) has him tied for seventy-sixth, as he also had four birdies over his day."

"Aiden Cudney is tied for seventy-eighth after rounds of seventy-nine and seventy-five while adding two birdies to the Redbird total in the tournament."

"The Redbirds and fifteen other schools in the tournament return to the course on Friday for the third and final round of the tournament hosted at Fort Collins Country Club."