Chambana Sun

The No. 9-ranked Fighting Illini men's golf team commenced the 2024-25 season with a score of 286 (+2), placing them in second after Round 1 of the Folds of Honor Collegiate at American Dunes Golf Club.

The Illini, winners of the inaugural Folds of Honor Collegiate in 2022, are trailing by 11 shots behind 16th-ranked Alabama. They enter Tuesday's second round with a one-shot lead over defending tournament champion Notre Dame, co-host Michigan State, and eighth-ranked Texas. These teams complete the top five standings with 36 holes remaining.

Four Illini players achieved top-20 scores in Monday's opening round. Senior Jackson Buchanan led with a 1-under 70, tying for seventh place and six shots behind Alabama's Jack Mitchell (-7). Buchanan recovered from a slow start that left him at 3-over through four holes. Birdies on Holes 6 and 10 brought him to 1-over before concluding his day with consecutive birdies on Holes 17 and 18.

Freshman Trey Marrion (E), making his collegiate debut, is one shot behind Buchanan, tying for tenth place. Junior Ryan Voois (+1) and sophomore Max Herendeen (+2) concluded Round 1 tied for fifteenth and eighteenth places respectively. Sophomore Ethan Wilson (+3) is tied for twenty-seventh but did not contribute to the team's Round 1 score.

Play resumes Tuesday morning with the Illini teeing off in Round 2 starting at 7:45 a.m. CT. Live scoring is available via Scoreboard powered by Clippd, while Golf Channel coverage begins at 8:30 a.m. CT.

For more updates on Fighting Illini men's golf, visit FightingIllini.com or follow @IlliniMGolf on social media platforms including X, Instagram, and Facebook.