Feb. 21, 2011
Norman, Okla. -
Complete Hogan Watch List in PDF Format 
Illinois senior Scott Langley and junior Luke Guthrie have been named to the watch list for the 2011 Ben Hogan Award. The honor is presented annually by Baird Private Wealth Management in association with Colonial Country Club, The Friends of Golf, and the Golf Coaches Association of America to the top men's collegiate golfer taking into account all collegiate and amateur competitions during a 12-month period.
Langley and Guthrie are two of 26 on the initial Hogan Award watch list. The semifinalists will be announced April 14 with the three finalists invited to the Colonial Country Club in Ft. Worth, Texas, on May 16 for the announcement of the award winner.
Langley, the 2010 NCAA champion who tied for 16th at last year's U.S. Open, is currently ranked seventh in the World Amateur rankings. He won the clinching match for the United States at the Palmer Cup in June and was a member of the three-man U.S. team at the World Team Amateur Championships in Buenos Aries in October. His career stroke average would better Steve Stricker as the best in Illinois history.
Guthrie is ranked 10th in the latest Golfweek collegiate rankings, having defeated nine players ranked in the top 25. Many of those came at the final event of the fall, the Jack Nicklaus Invitational. Guthrie won the event after rounds of 70-70-65, defeating a national-field, which included the world's top amateur player, Peter Uihlein of Oklahoma State. The Quincy, Ill., native also placed 12th at the Jones Cup earlier this month and placed third at the Illinois Open last July. The First Team All-Big Ten performer led the Illini with a 71.58 stroke average during the fall.
"Luke had a very good fall and a good Jones Cup," said Illinois head coach Mike Small. "He is growing as a player and I'm anxious to see if he can continue that maturity.
"We're proud to have two guys on that list," added Small. "That hasn't happened much from a Big Ten team. It is a testament to the hard work they have put in and the respect our program is getting across the nation."
Illinois headed to Tinervin Cup
The Illinois team gets back to action this weekend at the Coral Creek Golf Club in Placida, Fla. That's where Illinois meets Illinois State on Saturday in the annual Tinervin Cup. The Tinervin family, a benefactor to both programs, spearheaded the match, which is now in its eighth season.
The format includes three 2-on-2 better ball matches in the morning and six singles matches in the afternoon. The Illinois team will consist of senior Scott Langley, junior Luke Guthrie, senior Chris DeForest, freshman Thomas Pieters, sophomore Mason Jacobs and sophomore Jonathan Hauter. The Illini are undefeated in the previous seven years, having defeated the Redbirds 9-0 in 2010.
"Jeff and Madalyn Tinervin have graciously invited our teams down for the past several years," Small said. "It gives us a chance to play several rounds of golf and get a lot of reps in before our stroke play season gets going again. The match with Illinois State is always spirited and the whole weekend is a positive experience for all of us."
