The University of Illinois Fighting Illini men’s golf team, ranked No. 13 nationally, will close its regular season at the Hoosier Collegiate tournament on April 18-19 in Bloomington, Indiana.
This event is significant as it marks the team’s final competition before heading into the Big Ten Men’s Golf Championship. The tournament offers a chance for players to test their skills against top teams and prepare for postseason play.
The Hoosier Collegiate will take place at The Pfau Course, a par-71 layout stretching over 7,355 yards. Designed by Steve Smyers and Fuzzy Zoeller, the course features challenging elements such as 147 bunkers and large greens. The format is a five-count-four structure over two days with a shotgun start each morning.
The field includes 15 teams, with ten of them ranked inside the top 100 nationally. Illinois will face competition from Kansas (39), Purdue (41), Northwestern (46), Little Rock (57), Ohio State (61), Minnesota (72), Rutgers (85), Michigan (87) and host Indiana (97). Other Big Ten programs such as Maryland and Wisconsin are also participating.
Illinois’ lineup consists of Jake Birdwell, Ryan Voois, Dane Huddleston, Max Herendeen and Trey Marrion. Freddie Turnell and Ethan Wilson will compete individually. This is Illinois’ second appearance at this event; their last participation was in fall 2021 when they shared the team title but none of the current roster members competed then.
University of Illinois Fighting Illini Men’s Golf engages in both fall and spring tournaments that include conference and national events to provide competitive experience according to the official website. The program operates under NCAA Division I guidelines within the Big Ten Conference according to its official website, offering student-athletes opportunities for growth both athletically and academically according to its official website.
Head coach Mike Small leads Illinois men’s golf according to its official website. The program enhances athletic heritage at the university while promoting values like team spirit and individual excellence according to its official website.
After this weekend’s tournament, Illinois will compete May 1-3 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club’s Witch Hollow Course in North Plains, Oregon for the Big Ten Men’s Golf Championship.
