Redbirds Climb in Daylight-Shortened Opening Day of Tiger Invitational

Illinois State men's golf team moves up eight spots on the leaderboard after a strong second round performance.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:05am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in the style of Pablo Picasso, breaking down the golf tournament into sharp, overlapping geometric planes that capture the dynamic movement and competition of the event.A cubist, geometric interpretation of the intense competition and energy of the Tiger Invitational golf tournament.Columbia Today

The Illinois State men's golf team climbed eight spots into a tie for ninth place after a solid second round performance at the Tiger Invitational in Columbia, Missouri. Three Redbirds golfers - TJ Barger, Max Faucquez, and Pietro Pontiggia - are among the tournament leaders, with Barger and Faucquez tied for 26th place and Pontiggia tied for 53rd. Play was suspended due to darkness, with the remaining holes of the second round to be completed on Tuesday morning before the start of the third and final round.

Why it matters

The Tiger Invitational is an important early-season tournament for the Illinois State men's golf team, providing an opportunity to compete against top programs and gauge their progress ahead of the postseason. A strong showing here could build momentum for the Redbirds as they look to contend for a conference championship and NCAA tournament berth later in the year.

The details

Through 35.5 holes, the Redbirds' second-round score of 2-under par is the third-lowest in the field. TJ Barger and Max Faucquez lead the way for Illinois State, each sitting at 1-over par and tied for 26th place. Barger has already completed his second round, posting scores of 67 and 74, while Faucquez needs to finish just one more hole. Pietro Pontiggia is even par through 17 holes in the second round and is tied for 53rd place. Play was suspended due to darkness on Monday, with the remaining holes of the second round to be completed on Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. The third and final round of the Tiger Invitational will be played in its entirety on Tuesday following the completion of the second round.

  • Play was suspended due to darkness on Monday, with the remaining holes of the second round to be completed on Tuesday morning at 8 a.m.
  • The third and final round of the Tiger Invitational will be played in its entirety on Tuesday following the completion of the second round.

The players

TJ Barger

An Illinois State golfer who is tied for 26th place in the tournament, having posted scores of 67 and 74 in the first two rounds.

Max Faucquez

An Illinois State golfer who is tied for 26th place in the tournament, needing to complete just one more hole in his second round.

Pietro Pontiggia

An Illinois State golfer who is tied for 53rd place in the tournament, even par through 17 holes in his second round.

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What’s next

The remaining holes of the second round will be completed on Tuesday morning at 8 a.m., followed by the third and final round of the Tiger Invitational.

The takeaway

The Illinois State men's golf team's strong performance on the second day of the Tiger Invitational demonstrates their potential to contend for a conference championship and NCAA tournament berth later in the season. The team's ability to bounce back after a daylight-shortened opening round shows their resilience and determination to succeed at the highest level of collegiate golf.