Chambana Sun

Illinois head coach Mike Small has announced the addition of Freddie Turnell to the Fighting Illini men's golf team. Turnell will join as a sophomore transfer with three years of eligibility remaining after starting his collegiate career at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Turnell is one of three new players set to compete for Illinois in the 2025-26 season, alongside fall signee Dujuan Snyman and fellow spring transfer Dane Huddleston.

During his freshman year at Little Rock, Turnell contributed to the Trojans' Ohio Valley Conference Championship win and their NCAA Regional appearance. He was named to the All-OVC First Team and was honored on the OVC All-Newcomer Team, also earning OVC Freshman of the Year accolades. Throughout his rookie season, he played in 35 out of 36 rounds, maintaining a scoring average of 71.91. His performance included 20 rounds at par or better and ten rounds in the 60s. He achieved top-25 finishes in seven out of twelve stroke play events and secured top-ten placements in four out of his last seven tournaments, including a victory at The Goodwin.

Turnell expressed his reasons for choosing Illinois: "I chose to play golf at the University of Illinois due to a number of reasons, but mainly because of the outstanding facilities that are some of the best in the country, and the opportunity to learn and play for Coach Small, who has produced many tour pros in his career. Lastly, the team culture is great, and one that I can't wait to be a part of."

Coach Small commented on Turnell's addition: "Any team that can add to their roster with a talented player like Freddie is a very fortunate team. For us, this is our second portal addition – along with Dane Huddleston – and we think that we added as much talent to our team as anybody in the country this offseason. Freddie brings a ton of skill, potential, and momentum with him to Illinois. He showed that he can win at the Division I level this past season, and he has played some very strong golf over the last year in the UK. We are thrilled to welcome him to our program and to have him join our yearly quest for championships."