May 14, 2009

Team Scores in PDF Format

Individual Scores in PDF Format

Galloway National Golf Club is considered a challenging golf course. Throw in wind gusts over 30 miles per hour and it spells some high scores in the first round of the NCAA Northeast Regional. Although Illinois got off to a shaky start, the Illini righted the ship midway through the round to rank fifth of the 14 teams after the first of three rounds.

At the end of 54 holes, the top five teams will advance to NCAA Championship and the 10th-ranked and third seeded Fighting Illini sit right on the transfer spot. Illinois, who is seeking its second straight NCAA finals appearance, is at +23, three strokes ahead of sixth place Colorado State (+26). Tennessee had the best round of the day at +12 followed by Wake Forest (+13), Virginia (+14), and second-seeded Alabama (+19).

"The conditions were tough and it was very demanding around the greens," Illinois head coach Mike Small said. "It was just a fight for survival."

Fourth place and 10th place are separated by just 12 strokes. Top seed Clemson (+27), Kent State (+28), Minnesota (+30) and VCU (+31) round out the top ten.

"We survived the first day while not playing our best," said head coach Mike Small. "There are a lot of scores bunched around where we are. As a result, our focus is not on the scores, but on just playing better the next two days."

Sophomore Scott Langley had the best round of the day for Illinois, shooting three-over 74 on the 7,022-yard, par 71 course. Langley played the front nine, the tougher half of the course, at even par. He is tied for seventh individually and birdied holes 1, 11 and 14. Freshman Luke Guthire is at +6 (77); juniors Matt Hoffman and Zach Barlow are at +78; with sophomore Chris DeForest at +12 (83).

Illinois will be paired Alabama and Colorado State in the second round and will tee off its five participants between 8:50-9:30 am EDT (7:50-8:30 am CDT) on Friday.