Men’s Golf Tied for Second After 18 Holes

Friday, September 17

Chicago, Ill.

Indiana University

Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational

9/17/2021 6:15:00 PM | Men's Golf

Results

Salyers Tied atop the Individual Leaderboard

CHICAGO – The Indiana Hoosiers men's golf team heads into the second round of the 2021 Fighting Illini Invitational in a tie for second place in the team standings after shooting a 3-over 283 in the opening round at the Olympia Fields Country Club on Friday.

Sophomore Drew Salyers shares the individual lead after shooting a 2-under 68 over the first 18 holes.

The No. 2-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys (281; +1) hold a narrow two-stroke advantage over the Hoosiers and the No. 4-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels (283; +3) in the team standings.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
2021 Fighting Illini Invitational • Chicago
Olympia Fields Country Club, North Course
Par 70 • 7310 yards
Live Scoring via GolfStat
Team Standings: t-2nd/15 – 283 (+3)
Top Indiana Player: Drew Salyers – 68 (-2)

CHIP-INS
• Salyers proved over 18 holes of golf that his individual victory at the Hoosier Collegiate was not a fluke. The reigning Big Ten Golfer of the Week used a flurry of birdies on his back nine to close out his tournament-leading round of 68 (-2). He is tied with David Ford (North Carolina) atop the leaderboard.

• The round is the third in four tries this season for the Howard, Ohio, native played in the 60's. He carded two rounds at 68 in the first tournament of the season.

• Salyers started on the 10th tee and birdied No. 12 before ripping off a string of four birdies in six holes from No. 17 to the green on No. 4.

• Junior Noah Gillard birdied three of his final four holes to close out his opening round at 71 (+1). He is currently tied for 13th through 18 holes.

• Senior Mitch Davis shot a 72 (+2) in the first round of the tournament. He holed out birdies on No. 3, No. 11 and No. 13. He will enter the second round in a tie for 22nd.

• Fifth-year senior Ethan Shepherd shot a 1-under 34 through his first nine holes and finished the round with a 72 (+2). He registered birdies on No. 11 and No. 16 and is tied for 22nd in the individual standings.

• Sophomore Clay Merchent is tied for 61st in the standings after shooting a first-round 76 (+6) with birdies on No. 2 and No. 17.

• The Hoosiers are ahead of eight schools ranked inside the top-25 of the Bushnell/Golfweek Preseason Coaches' Poll: Pepperdine (1), Arizona State (3), Texas (5), Illinois (10), Florida State (12), Stanford (15), Florida (17), Arizona (22).

HOOSIERS IN THE STANDINGS
t-1. Drew Salyers – 68 (-2)
t-13. Noah Gillard – 71 (+1)
t-22. Mitch Davis – 72 (+2)
t-22. Ethan Shepherd – 72 (+2)
t-61. Clay Merchent – 76 (+6)

UP NEXT
The Hoosiers will be right back on the course for the second round of action at the Fighting Illini Invite. Tee times are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. ET.

@IndianaMGolf
For all the latest on Indiana University men's golf, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMGolf on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

#GoIU