Redbirds Open Season at Myrtle Beach Intercollegiate

Image courtesy of Illinois State Athletics

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Illinois State men’s golf opened its season with a promising and resilient effort at the Myrtle Beach Golf Trips Intercollegiate, overcoming an up-and-down tournament to finish tied for 11th place with a total score of 870.

The performance was highlighted by the play of several newcomers and returning standout junior Max Faucquez.

The Redbirds began the tournament in impressive fashion, shooting a team score of 281 in the opening round. The mark was tied for the 49th-lowest single-round score in program history and put the Redbirds in eighth place, just five strokes off the tournament lead.

Reigning Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year Sam Ottwell paced the Redbirds with an opening-round 4-under-par 68. Ottwell recorded eight birdies, the second-most in the field during the first round, and finished tied for sixth individually after round one. His performance on par-5 holes was particularly impressive, as his 4-under score on those holes tied for the best mark in the field after the opening round.

Newcomers Gabriele Bravin and freshman Rayden Tee also made immediate impacts in their Illinois State debuts.

Bravin carded a 3-under 69 with six birdies, while Tee delivered a steady 1-under 71 in his first collegiate round, recording three birdies and 14 pars. Faucquez rounded out the team’s scoring effort with a 1-over 73 that included three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 13th hole.

Freshman Fernando Cobo Delgado posted two birdies and 13 pars in his collegiate debut, while Gonzalo Cuellar, competing as an individual, opened with an even-par 72.

Despite the strong start, the second round proved more challenging for the Redbirds. The team posted a 36-hole score of 581 and entered finished the day in 13th place.

Faucquez provided the bright spot with a 2-under 70, highlighted by five birdies and 10 pars. The round moved him to 1-under for the tournament and into a tie for 26th place individually.

Cobo Delgado continued his consistent play with a 1-under 71, recording 15 pars and moving into a tie for 48th alongside Ottwell, who struggled in the second round with a 7-over 79 after his opening-round success. Bravin and Tee carded rounds of 80 and 81, respectively.

Looking to bounce back in the final round, the Redbirds responded by climbing two spots on the leaderboard to finish tied for 11th with a three-round score of 870.

Tournament host Coastal Carolina ran away with the title at 835, followed by Elon at 844 and Lipscomb at 846.

UTSA (855), Campbell (857), Stetson (858), Florida Atlantic (861), Kennesaw State (862), Jacksonville (865) and UNCW (866) rounded out the top 10 ahead of Illinois State.

Jacksonville State and East Carolina matched the Redbirds’ score of 870 in the 16-team field, while Winthrop (871), Appalachian State (872) and North Alabama (880) completed the standings.

Faucquez emerged as Illinois State’s top individual finisher after shooting an even-par 72 in the final round. He finished the tournament at 1-under 215 and tied for 26th place.

Ottwell rebounded from his second-round struggles with a 1-under 71 on Tuesday, recording three birdies and 13 pars to finish tied for 38th at 218.

Cobo Delgado impressed throughout his collegiate debut, closing with an even-par 72 and a tournament score of 219.

His performance tied him for 44th place and matched the 45th-lowest 54-hole tournament score by a freshman in program history. He also tied for the eighth-most pars in the field with 37.

Bravin shot a final-round 74 and finished tied for 62nd, while Tee closed with a 76 to tie for 81st.

Cuellar posted a 2-over 74 in the final round and finished tied for 53rd overall as an individual competitor.

While the Redbirds did not contend for the team title after their fast start, the season-opening event offered encouraging signs.

Illinois State received strong contributions from several newcomers, saw Faucquez record a top-30 finish and watched Ottwell show flashes of the form that earned him MVC Freshman of the Year honors last season.

Illinois State will now have nearly three weeks to build on those positives before returning to action at the Badger Invitational, hosted by Wisconsin at TPC Wisconsin from Sept. 27-29.

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