IOWA CITY, Iowa – Behind a low second round score, the Illinois State men's golf team has climbed to fourth at the Hawkeye Invite.

ISU carded a second-round 277 in the second round, which is tied for the ninth-lowest single-round in program history, as three Redbirds carded scores in 60's in the second time around the course in the tournament.

The Birds opened the tournament with a first-round 289, and with the second round 277 the team has a first-day score of 566. Only Kansas (550), Little Rock (558), and tournament host Iowa (559) stand in front of the Redbirds in the team standings. Drake (578), South Dakota State (580), Minnesota (582), Northern Illinois (584), Wichita State (587), Southern Illinois (593), Kansas City (595), North Dakota State (595), and Missouri State (596) round out the 13 schools in the tournament field.

Leading the way individually for the Birds was senior Will Troy, who had rounds of 67 and 68 for his 36-hole score of 135, which is in second place individually. Over the first 18 holes Troy had an eagle, five birdies and 10 pars. His second round had five birdies and a dozen pars. He has the lowest scoring average in the field on par-4's, and is tied for the second-lowest on par-3's.

Reigning MVC Player of the Week TJ Barger followed an opening-round 74 with a 66 to combine for a two-round 140, tied for eighth. In his opening round he had five birdies and seven pars, before coming back with two eagles, five birdies, and eight pars in his second round. He has the lowest par-five scoring average in the field, averaging 3.88 strokes per par-five hole.

Pietro Pontiggia put together rounds of 76 and 68 for his even-par 144, tied for 22nd with 18 holes to play. He started his day with a 76 that had two birdies and 11 pars, and followed that with two eagles, four birdies, and nine pars in the second round for a four-under 68.

Alex McCulla and Aiden Cudney shot matching rounds of 72 and 75 for a 147, tied for 37th. McCulla had four birdies and 10 pars in the first round and had two eagles and 10 pars in the second round for his 147. Cudney – playing as an individual – had four birdies and 10 pars in his first round, while carding five birdies with five pars in the second round.

Max Faucquez had rounds of 81 and 77 over the first 36 holes of the tournament, carding five birdies and 17 pars over the two rounds.

ISU will tee off starting at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow morning on holes 4-7 in the final-round shotgun start.

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