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BALTIMORE -No. 12 Fighting Illini men's golf battled windy conditions at Baltimore Country Club (Par 70, 7,181-yards) on Sunday to win its fourth consecutive Big Ten Championship title. The only team to finish under par for the tournament, Illinois shot 7-over par on Sunday for a 4-under par total tally, finishing 15 strokes ahead of runner-up Ohio State (+11). The title marks the 16^th Big Ten Men's Golf Championship in program history, and the ninth title in the last 10 seasons.  

One of just two players to finish under par in the tournament, senior Nick Hardy closed the tournament at 6-under par to earn Big Ten Medalist honors. Hardy marks the eighth consecutive Big Ten Championship medalist from Illinois, and he is the fourth Illini to win multiple individual conference titles in his career. Hardy previously earned Big Ten Co-Medalist honors as a freshman in 2015. The Orange and Blue are the only team in Big Ten history to garner eight consecutive individual medalists.

"I'm so proud of the guys for handling the adversity that was thrown at them this week, and for finishing off the tournament strongly on such a difficult day," head coach Mike Small said. "Contending for Big Ten Championships is a priority for this program and I'm so proud of the guys for accepting the expectation. It was a huge week for Nick {Hardy}, he showed maturity and patience throughout the week and positive things came his way in the end."

Hardy fired a 3-under par final round 67 in windy, cold conditions on Sunday to pull ahead of Penn State's Cole Miller (-4 overall), who finished in second overall two behind Hardy. He used consecutive birdies on the front nine to negate an early bogey. Hardy closed the round strongly with two more birdies in the last three holes. He was one of just two players to shoot under par on Sunday. Hardy's individual title on Sunday marks his first of the season. He has now finished among the top 10 individuals in 10 tournaments this year.

Hardy's victory earned him a spot on the All-Championship team, and he was joined by sophomores Michael Feagles and Bryan Baumgarten, who tied for fifth individually at 2-over par.

Baumgarten closed play with a 1-over par final round 71. He shot even on the front nine and used a birdie on the 15^th hole to negate two late bogeys. Feagles shot 4-over par on Sunday, and earned his highest individual finish of the season.

Senior Dylan Meyer tied for eighth individually with a total score 3-over par. Meyer finished among the top 10 individuals at Big Tens in each of his four years at Illinois, including earning medalist honors in 2017.

Sophomore Giovanni Tadiotto tied for 22^nd individually with a total score 7-over par. He has earned six finishes among the top 25 this year.

Illinois has won 16 Big Ten Men's Golf Championships in school history, with nine of those coming under head coach Mike Small. Small has the unique distinction of winning nine Big Ten titles as a coach and one as a player (1988). Illinois is the first school to win nine Big Ten titles in 10 years since Ohio State won 11 titles in 12 years from 1976-1987.

A tape-delayed broadcast of the Big Ten Men's Golf Championships will air on the Big Ten Network May 7 and 4 p.m. CT.

The Illini will return to Champaign and await NCAA Regional selections, which will take place Wednesday at 5 p.m. CT on Golf Channel and will be streamed live on the Golf Channel website. There will be 81 teams and 45 individuals selected to compete in the six NCAA Men's Regional Championship sites, May 14-16. The six regional sites include Lonnie Poole Golf Course in in Raleigh, North Carolina, the Traditions Club in Bryan Texas, the Scarlet Course/OSU Golf Course in Columbus, Ohio, Reunion Resort in Kissimmee, Florida, Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Oklahoma, and The Reserve at Spanos Park in Stockton, California.

Stay tuned to FightingIllini.com for the latest on Illinois men's golf.

Illinois Big Ten Championship Medalists (20)

Year     Player (site)

2018     Nick Hardy (Baltimore, M.D.)
2017     Dylan Meyer (Baltimore, M.D.)
2016     Thomas Detry (Newburgh, Ind.)
2015     Nick Hardy (Newburgh, Ind.)
2014     Charlie Danielson (French Lick, Ind.)
2013     Thomas Pieters (French Lick, Ind.)
2012     Luke Guthrie (French Lick, Ind.)
2011     Luke Guthrie (West Lafayette, Ind.)
1999     Larry Nuger (West Lafayette, Ind.)
1993     Jamie Fairbanks (Bloomington, Ind.)
1989     Steve Stricker (Madison, Wis.)
1988     Steve Stricker (Savoy, Ill.)
1986     Steve Stricker (East Lansing, Mich.)
1982     Mike Chadwick (West Lafayette, Ind.)
1962     Mike Toliuszis (Savoy, Ill.)
1942     James McCarthy (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
1941     Alex Welsh (Lake Forest, Ill.)
1931     Richard Martin (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
1930     Richard Martin (Wilmette, Ill.)
1923     R.E. Rolfe (Evanston, Ill.)