Ruben Sondjaja Assistant Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Ruben Sondjaja Assistant Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
The University of Illinois men's golf team, ranked 12th nationally, secured their first victory of the season at the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational held at Steelwood Country Club in Loxley, Alabama. The Illini finished with a three-round team score of 834 (-30), edging out Kennesaw State by two strokes.
Head Coach Mike Small celebrated his team's 92nd win over his 25-year tenure. "The win is the 92nd for the Illini in 25 seasons under Head Coach Mike Small," according to the press release.
The team began strong on Saturday with a season-low round of 276 (-12). They followed up with a second-round score of 283 (-5) and concluded with an impressive final round of 275 (-13) on Sunday.
Jackson Buchanan led the lineup with a third-place finish, following his previous win at the Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational. Buchanan's total score was 204 (-12), marking his lowest of the season. His performance included consecutive rounds of 67 (-5) on Saturday and a closing round of 70 (-2).
Sophomores Max Herendeen and Ethan Wilson contributed significantly to the team's success in Round 3. Herendeen posted a career-best round of 66 (-6) and moved up to tie for eighth place overall. Wilson also achieved personal bests with a final round score of 68 (-4), finishing tied for 24th.
Junior Ryan Voois tied for 16th place with a total score of 212 (-4), while freshman Trey Marrion tied for 33rd, contributing scores in each of the last two rounds.
Competing as an individual, freshman Jake Birdwell achieved a career-best finish, tying for tenth place with a total score of 210 (-6). Birdwell recorded his best single-round score in Round 1 with a score of 68 (-4).
Illinois' victory was marked by their collective effort, which placed them ahead of Kennesaw State and Kansas State. Rice and Memphis completed the top five teams behind Illinois.
Looking forward, Illinois will participate in the Tinervin Cup exhibition early next year before officially starting their spring schedule at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate in Hawaii from February 13-15.
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