Chambana Sun

The Fighting Illini men's golf team, ranked 11th, made a notable advance in the Boilermaker Invitational, securing a tie for third place after a final round score of 5-under 279. The team was led by Jackson Buchanan and Max Herendeen, with Buchanan delivering a score of 68 and Herendeen a 67.

Illinois completed the tournament with a 54-hole score of 842 (-10). Head coach Mike Small commented, "It was good to see a strong finish today. That's one of the cornerstones of our program, to always finish off tournaments strong and have a solid last round." He noted, however, that the team still faced issues with consistency, needing improvement in mental and emotional steadiness and overall golf fundamentals.

Buchanan finished third with a score of 205 (-8), just two shots shy of Hunter Thomson of Michigan, who took the top individual spot. Buchanan showed strong play, particularly with birdies on significant holes despite occasional setbacks. Herendeen's 67 marked a significant leap, moving him 33 spots to a tie for 13th, thanks to four birdies and an eagle.

Trey Marrion, a freshman, stayed even at 71, totaling 213 for his fifth top-25 finish this season, while Ryan Voois and Ethan Wilson both finished their rounds at 73.

In the team competition, the Illini finished six strokes behind Marquette and were four shots below Purdue. In the individual category, freshman Jake Birdwell was the only player to remain under par throughout the tournament, finishing first at Kampen Golf Course.

Next, the Fighting Illini will compete in the 2025 Big Ten Men's Golf Championship from April 25-27 in Baltimore. They aim for their 14th conference title in 16 years and the 21st in their history.