Redbird Golf Opens Season at Island Resort Intercollegiate; Sets Sights on Colorado

NORMAL, Ill.- Led by strong final-round performances from TJ Barger and Max Faucquez, the Illinois State men’s golf team landed themselves an eight-place at the Island Resort Intercollegiate this past weekend. The Redbirds closed with a team score of 845, tied for ninth-best in program history. Their final round score of 276 matched the sixth-best single round in program history.

Head coach Ray Kralis said he was pleased with how his group responded in their first tournament against a talented field.
“We got better each round and were under par in all three,” Kralis said. “In a very strong and deep field, we held our own with a few of the Big Ten and Big 12 teams and picked up quality wins against competitive mid-major programs.”

Barger, a Bloomington native, finished with a three-round total of 205, the 11th best score in program history. The senior also posted his career low single-round score of 68 in the final round. Faucquez, the sophomore from France, wasn’t far behind with his three-round score of 207.

Beyond Barger and Faucquez, the Redbirds showed their depth. Sophomore Aiden Cudney set career-bests with a final-round score of 70 and total of 217 on the weekend. Freshman Gonzalo Cuellar made his collegiate debut.
Kralis said he’s encouraged by how the team is blending together.

“I love the chemistry of the group. Our seniors welcome the leadership roles and are doing a great job, and our younger guys are talented and bought in,” he said. “We have some room to grow, but I am confident that everything we want is within where we are and where we can be. There are no reasons to lower expectations. We have been at the top of the MVC for a few years and want to stay there, and we want to compete in the postseason.”

Next up for Illinois State is the Ram Masters Invitational in Fort Collins, Colorado, beginning Sept. 11th. Kralis noted the challenges and opportunities present for the event.

“We’ll see a group of teams that we don’t normally see and deal with some elevation differences playing at 6000 feet,” he said. “It is a great opportunity to grow as individually and as a squad. We have a few rounds back here yet to round out our top five, and that competition will make us better.”

As they prepare for the season and the challenges ahead, the Redbirds’ performance in Michigan showcased the talent and depth present on this roster. They look to remain a top contender in the Missouri Valley Conference.

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