Redbirds Battle on Final Day of Memphis Intercollegiate: Spirited by Old Dominick
CORDOVA, Tenn. – On a course that was fast and firm, and yielded few birdies, the Illinois State men's golf team finished in ninth place at the Memphis Intercollegiate: Spirited by Old Dominick, as Alex McCulla led the way for ISU, tying for a seventh-place finish.
Nationally-ranked Illinois (10th) won the team crown, running away behind a final team score of 878, distancing themselves from tournament host Memphis' 883. Southern Miss (900), Central Arkansas (912), Austin Peay (913), Western Kentucky (917), Samford (918), and Dayton (920) finished ahead of ISU's 922. Belmont (925), Morehead State (934), UT-Martin (934), Missouri State (948), Lindenwood (959), and Tennessee State (965) closed out the schools in the 15-team field.
McCulla continued his strong play at the tournament, closing the 54 holes with a final round of 75, giving him a three-round score of 221, five strokes over par, and tied for seventh individually. He had two birdies over his final round, with a dozen pars for his top-10 finish.
Pietro Pontiggia tied for 35th in the tournament with a 54-hole score of 231 (+15). His final round had two birdies – within a three-hole span – and nine pars.
Freshman Max Faucquez ended his tournament with a final-round 77, closing in a tie of 46th place with a three-round 234. His final round had two birdies and 10 pars, and he climbed five spots of the tournament's final day.
Will Troy closed his day with his best round of the tournament with a 77 on the difficult course, using a birdie and 11 pars, as he climbed four places over the final round into 58th with a three-round 238.
TJ Barger shot a one-under 35 on his back nine of the tournament and finished his last day with a four-over 76, including two birdies and 11 pars. Over the three rounds he tied for 62nd overall with a 54-hole score of 239.
The Redbirds return to action next weekend at the one-day Kishwaukee Intercollegiate on April 5.
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