Eric Gilpin Assistant Coach & Director of Operations | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Eric Gilpin Assistant Coach & Director of Operations | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. – The No. 5 Fighting Illini men's golf team is in the clubhouse tied for eighth with No. 9 Florida at the 18th annual OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational. A trio of competitors will return to the course Sunday morning to complete play.
Due to potential inclement weather on Sunday, Saturday's schedule was adjusted for continuous play of 36 holes. Seventy-five of the 78 players completed the event before darkness suspended play. Arizona State's Jose Luis Ballester (-10) and Georgia Tech's Benjamin Reuter (-9) are in a close battle for medalist honors, with two holes remaining alongside playing partner Ian Gilligan (-1) of Florida, who is tied for 14th.
All five members of the Illini lineup, along with two true freshmen making their collegiate debuts as individuals, finished their rounds on Saturday.
Junior Ryan Voois shot three consecutive rounds of 1-under 69 and is tied for sixth at 207 (-3). This marks the first time Voois has shot three rounds under par in a single event, and his total is just two strokes shy of his career-low set last May at the NCAA Stanford Regional.
Sophomore Max Herendeen is tied for 18th with an even-par 210. Herendeen posted his lowest round of the weekend in Saturday afternoon's finale with a 1-under 69 that included four straight birdies from Hole 9-12.
Freshman Trey Marrion is tied for 37th at 5-over after rounds of 71-73-71 in his first action at Olympia Fields. Senior Jackson Buchanan is tied for 55th at 219 (+9), and sophomore Ethan Wilson is tied for 69th at +16.
Jake Birdwell and Joseph Buttress made their collegiate debuts as individual competitors, finishing T60th and T75th respectively.
No. 17 Georgia Tech leads by two strokes at -13 over No.2 ASU (-11). No.16 North Carolina and No.18 Oklahoma State are tied for third at -1, followed by No.11 Texas (+3) in fifth place. No.19 Texas A&M and No.22 Stanford are one stroke ahead of Illinois and Florida at +9.
UP NEXT
The Illini will remain in Illinois to compete in the Windon Memorial Classic hosted by Northwestern at Conway Farms Golf Club from Sept.29-30.
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