VERONA, Wis. – The Illinois State men's golf team, playing in a deep field that has four schools ranked or receiving votes in the most recent Golfweek Coaches Poll, stands third overall halfway through the Badger Invitational following a five-under-par opening round. Among the schools that sit below the Redbirds include Marquette, South Florida, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Nebraska, Purdue, and Maryland.
ISU's 283 is third in the field behind 17th ranked Texas A&M's 279 and Western Carolina's 282. Behind the Redbirds is a myriad of large schools, including 23rd-ranked Ole Miss (9th, 290) and two others receiving votes – South Carolina (8th, 289), and Purdue (t-13th, 294).