NCAA Golf News

Illini Men’s Golf In the Pros | March 13

Steve Stricker at 2023 Cologuard Classic (Getty Images)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Nick Hardy, Steve Stricker, and Thomas Pieters will carry the mantle of Fighting Illini men’s  golf this week, with the trio teeing off in events hosted from California to Florida.

PGA Tour

Hardy, ranked 94th in the FedEx Cup and 191st in the Official World Golf Rankings, is in search of his second top-10 finish of the season when he tees off this week at the Valspar Championship.

The event is held at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla.

PGA Tour Champions

Stricker and the PGA Tour Champions are back in action for the first time since March 5 when he closed out a tie for eighth at the Cologuard Classic in Tucson, Ariz. This week, Stricker will test himself against the field at the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club in Newport Beach, Calif.

Steve Stricker at the 2023 Cologuard Classic (Getty Images)

He opened 2023 with a victory at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in late January and is looking for his fifth consecutive season with multiple victories; he won three Champions events in 2018, two each in 2019 and 2020-21, and four in 2022.

LIV Golf

Pieters and his RangeGoats GC squad will be back in action as the second event of the 2023 LIV Golf schedule brings the former Illini to Tucson, Ariz.

Pieters will be playing The Gallery Golf Club starting Friday, teeing off just 10 miles from where the Illini will be in action at the National Invitational Tournament, hosted by Arizona, at OMNI Tucson National Golf Club.

Currently No. 42 in the OWGR, Pieters is the  top-ranked Illini ahead of fellow Belgian Thomas Detry at No. 80.  

..

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of Illinois Athletics…