Illinois’ Buchanan Recognized as Big Ten Golfer of the Year

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Fighting Illini junior Jackson Buchanan, who was recognized earlier this week as a unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Conference first team, has also been named Big Ten Golfer of the Year.  

“I am so happy for Jackson to be recognized as the Big Ten Golfer of the Year,” head coach Mike Small said. “Jackson has had a very successful and consistent season, and his record speaks for itself. As his coach, it is great to see his dedication and outstanding play recognized by the conference.”

Buchanan’s recognition marks the 15th Big Ten Golfer of the Year honor for the Fighting Illini program, and the fourth straight for the Orange and Blue dating back to 2021. 

Buchanan, a native of Dacula, Georgia, is the Big Ten’s top-rated golfer in the NCAA Division I individual rankings where he ranked 11 spots ahead of the next-highest rated league contender prior to balloting. Building on his sophomore campaign in which he earned All-America status as the runner-up at the 2023 NCAA Championship, Buchanan has continued to improve and posted a career-best season stroke average of 70.65, on pace for the sixth-best mark in Illinois’ program history.  

Entering play at the NCAA Stanford Regional, Buchanan has recorded two individual tournament victories on the season – at the Purdue Fall Invitational in September and the Duck Invitational in March – tied for the top mark in the Big Ten. He narrowly missed out on a third as runner-up at the Big Ten Conference Championship last weekend. Buchanan has posted four top-three finishes, eight top-10s and has closed as the Illini’s top finisher in a team-leading four tournaments, while pacing the Orange and Blue with 11 rounds in the 60s and 13 rounds under par.

Buchanan shares the 2023-24 Big Ten Golfer of the Year honor with Purdue’s Herman Sekne, who was recognized in the conference’s initial announcement before an update was issued Friday due to an incorrect ballot submission.

2024 BIG TEN MEN’S GOLF ALL-CONFERENCE AND INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS

• Big Ten Co-Golfers of the Year: Jackson Buchanan, Illinois & Herman Sekne, Purdue
• Big Ten Freshman of the Year: MAX HERENDEEN, Illinois
• Big Ten Coach of the Year: DAVID INGLIS, Northwestern

ALL-BIG TEN TEAMS

First Team

• JACKSON BUCHANAN, Illinois
• MAX HERENDEEN, Illinois
• Hunter Thomson,…