OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL -- Collecting a second round cumulative nine-over 289, the No. 19 Arizona State men's golf team improved 13 strokes from its previous outing to move into a tie for 13th heading into the final round of the Fighting Illini Invitational, held at the famed par-70/7,353-yard Olympia Fields Country Club.
"Today was a step in the right direction for us," said head coach Matt Thurmond. "We were more ourselves and should be ready to make a move tomorrow. This is a US Open type of setup and it's been so good for us to see where we are. We are learning a lot about ourselves."
Sun Devil swinger Ki Taek Lee remains in contention just four shots off tournament-leaders Dylan Meyer of Illinois and Cameron Champ of Texas A&M, after posting a three-over 73.
"Ki Taek Lee is playing really well and might get himself in the hunt tomorrow," said Thurmond regarding the senior golfer.
The La Quinta, California native currently leads the field in par-3 scoring with a 2.63 average. Lee will seek to garner the third top-10 finish of his collegiate career, having last accomplished the feat in 2015 at the Southern Wyoming Invitational.
KI TAEK LEE BEST CAREER FINISHES
2015 WYOMING SOUTHERN 73-70-73=216/T5
2015 ASU THUNDERBIRD 74-68-68=210/E/T8
2014 ALISTER MACKENZIE INVITE 67-70-75=212/-1/T11
2014 ASU THUNDERBIRD 67-70-73=210/-6/T11
2016 PRESTIGE AT PGA WEST 74-67-71=212/T13
Newcomer Alex Del Rey Gonzalez of Spain paced the Maroon and Gold with an impressive even-par 70.
"Alex had a really sound", noted Thurmond. "He has been battling through an illness but finally had more energy and it showed."
At a tournament total six-over 146, Gonzalez is currently positioned in tie for 24th.
Super-senior Jared du Toit flipped the script on challenging first round outing for the Canuck, firing a two-over 72.
Rounding out the Sun Devil lineup freshman Blake Waggoner signed off on a four-over 74, while junior Ryan Douglass posted a seven-over 77.
As a conglomerate the Sun Devils posted the largest round by round score differential in the field, finishing play at 289, 13 strokes improved from the previous day's 302. The team excelled collectively on Olympia Field's back-nine making the turn at 18 at four-over, while playing the front at a 12-over clip.
Final round action of the 11th rendering of the Fighting Illini invite is slated to begin at 6 a.m. PT. The Sun Devils paired with Northwestern and Army West Point will tee-off on the back-nine beginning at 7:30 a.m. PT.
Live scoring will once again be available via Golfstat.com.
"Today was a step in the right direction for us," said head coach Matt Thurmond. "We were more ourselves and should be ready to make a move tomorrow. This is a US Open type of setup and it's been so good for us to see where we are. We are learning a lot about ourselves."
Sun Devil swinger Ki Taek Lee remains in contention just four shots off tournament-leaders Dylan Meyer of Illinois and Cameron Champ of Texas A&M, after posting a three-over 73.
"Ki Taek Lee is playing really well and might get himself in the hunt tomorrow," said Thurmond regarding the senior golfer.
The La Quinta, California native currently leads the field in par-3 scoring with a 2.63 average. Lee will seek to garner the third top-10 finish of his collegiate career, having last accomplished the feat in 2015 at the Southern Wyoming Invitational.
KI TAEK LEE BEST CAREER FINISHES
2015 WYOMING SOUTHERN 73-70-73=216/T5
2015 ASU THUNDERBIRD 74-68-68=210/E/T8
2014 ALISTER MACKENZIE INVITE 67-70-75=212/-1/T11
2014 ASU THUNDERBIRD 67-70-73=210/-6/T11
2016 PRESTIGE AT PGA WEST 74-67-71=212/T13
Newcomer Alex Del Rey Gonzalez of Spain paced the Maroon and Gold with an impressive even-par 70.
"Alex had a really sound", noted Thurmond. "He has been battling through an illness but finally had more energy and it showed."
At a tournament total six-over 146, Gonzalez is currently positioned in tie for 24th.
Super-senior Jared du Toit flipped the script on challenging first round outing for the Canuck, firing a two-over 72.
Rounding out the Sun Devil lineup freshman Blake Waggoner signed off on a four-over 74, while junior Ryan Douglass posted a seven-over 77.
As a conglomerate the Sun Devils posted the largest round by round score differential in the field, finishing play at 289, 13 strokes improved from the previous day's 302. The team excelled collectively on Olympia Field's back-nine making the turn at 18 at four-over, while playing the front at a 12-over clip.
Final round action of the 11th rendering of the Fighting Illini invite is slated to begin at 6 a.m. PT. The Sun Devils paired with Northwestern and Army West Point will tee-off on the back-nine beginning at 7:30 a.m. PT.
Live scoring will once again be available via Golfstat.com.