LOXLEY, Ala. – No. 12 Fighting Illini men’s golf closed out the team’s first victory of the season in the final event of the fall schedule, firing a three-round team score of 834 (-30) to claim a two-stroke win at the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational at Steelwood Country Club. The win is the 92nd for the Illini in 25 seasons under Head Coach Mike Small.
The Illini opened the event Saturday with team’s lowest single round of the season, a 12-under 276. And after a Round 2 tally of 283 (-5) on Saturday afternoon, the Orange and Blue bested their opening mark in Round 3 with a closing 275 (-13) on Sunday.
Illinois’ lineup featured four top-25 finishers, led by Jackson Buchanan who followed his win last week at the Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational with a third-place showing. The senior’s three-round total of 12-under 204 marked his lowest of the season. He posted back-to-back 5-under 67s on Saturday, and a closing 70 (-2) to record his third top-three finish of fall.
Sophomores Max Herendeen and Ethan Wilson recorded the top Round 3 scores for the Illini to make big jumps up the leaderboard. Herendeen’s 66 (-6) and his three-round total of 209 (-7) both marked season bests as he moved up 15 spots into a T8 finish. Wilson also posted season-bests with his final 68 (-4) and his 54-hole score of 214 (-2) as he ascended 14 spots to finish tied for 24th.
Junior Ryan Voois notched his fourth top-25 finish of the season, tying for 16th at 212 (-4). Freshman Trey Marrion tied for 33rd, but produced scoring totals for the Illini in each of the last two rounds en route to an even-par 216.
Freshman Jake Birdwell, competing as an individual, tied for 10th with a career-best 54-hole total of 210 (-6). He also posted a personal best score of 68 (-4) in Round 1, and the finish marked the first top-10 of his career.
In the team race, the Illini’s 834 (-30) bested Kennesaw State (-28) by two strokes, and was 12 shots ahead of third-place Kansas State. Rice (-14) and Memphis (-11) rounded out the top five behind the Illini.
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The Illini will return to the course in early 2025 for the annual Tinervin Cup exhibition at Coral Creek Golf Club in Placida, Fla….
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