Feb. 11, 2012
Results
BRADENTON, Fla. - Top-seeded Illinois bounced back on Saturday at the Big Ten Match Play Championship, sweeping all six individual matches to defeat No. 12 Nebraska, 6-0, at the Concession Golf Club. The Illini won their only match of the day after the consolation bracket was cut short due to time constraints. In the championship bracket, No. 7 Northwestern won the team title after knocking off No. 8 Minnesota (4.5-1.5) at the par-72 course designed by Jack Nicklaus in association with Tony Jacklin.
"It was a good sign to have everyone come back and win today," head coach Mike Small said. "We made it a point not to get down after yesterday and continue to compete even though we couldn't win it all. We played hard and worked to improve like we try to do every day, so I am proud of them for that. The goal today was to come back and play for each other and represent the school with pride no matter what the circumstances were, which they did well."
Senior Luke Guthrie never trailed in his match, taking care of Nebraska's Scott Willman in 13 holes (6 & 5). Sophomore Thomas Pieters, who finished 2-0 at the event, fell behind by one after hole one and four, but stepped up and took control of the match by winning six of the next 10 holes to defeat Manuel Lavin by a final of 4 & 3. Junior Mason Jacobs also won his second match in as many days, clinching the victory on No. 18 with a par to finish 1 up over Neil Dufford.
Sophomore Jonathan Hauter again led for the entire round, handling Ross Dickson by a score of 4 & 3. The Groveland, Ill., native only lost four of the 32 holes played between the two days. Junior Ross Frankenberg never fell behind in his match and led for 14 of 17 holes on his way to topping Jordan Reinertson (3 & 1). After tying the first hole, freshman Brian Campbell birdied the second and never looked back, defeating Ryan Grassel (4 & 3).
The Wildcats won the event for the third consecutive season after getting by the Gophers, who the Illini fell to in a tiebreaker during the quarterfinal. The Big Ten Match Play Championship was filmed by the Big Ten Network and will be aired as a highlight show throughout the year beginning on Sunday, March 11.
The Illini will play their first stroke play event of the season from Feb. 20-21 in Mobile, Ala., at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate.
"We had a good practice session after our match today and continue to progress and make improvements in preparation for our first stroke play tournament," Small said.
Big Ten Match Play Championship Saturday Results
Semifinal Results
No. 7 Northwestern def. No. 6 Ohio State, 5-1-0
No. 8 Minnesota def. No. 4 Purdue, 3-3-0 (tiebreaker 9-8 MINN)
FINAL Results
No. 7 Northwestern def. No. 8 Minnesota, 4.5-1.5
No. 1 Illinois def. No. 12 Nebraska, 6-0-0
No. 1 - Luke Guthrie (ILL) def. Scott Willman (NEB), 6 & 5
No. 2 - Thomas Pieters (ILL) def. Manuel Lavin (NEB), 4 & 3
No. 3 - Mason Jacobs (ILL) def. Neil Dufford (1 up)
No. 4 - Jonathan Hauter (ILL) def. Ross Dickson (NEB), 4 & 3
No. 5 - Ross Frankenberg (ILL) def. Jordan Reinertson (NEB), 3 & 1
No. 6 - Brian Campbell (ILL) def. Ryan Grassel (NEB), 4 & 3
