Champaign, Ill. – Fighting Illini Men's Golf and head coach Mike Small announced the 2015-16 season schedule on Aug. 25. The fall slate will put the Illini on some of the most challenging courses in the country, while the spring schedule is packed with tough competition as well.

"This season's fall schedule presents a great opportunity for our guys," head coach Mike Small said. "Not only will the fields be stacked with nationally ranked teams, but the golf courses are all world-class and challenging."

The Illini will kick off the fall season on Sept. 12 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill. for the Northern Intercollegiate, hosted by Northern Illinois University.

The following weekend, Illinois will welcome teams to Olympia Fields for the OFCC Illini Invitational (Sept. 18-20). The event is in its 10^th year at the famed Olympia Fields Country Club, which is home to several premier events including the 2015 U.S. Amateur. The club has hosted two U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships, five Western Opens and a U.S. Senior Open among other high-level tournaments.

October sees the Illini heading to Indiana University's Crooked Stick Invitational (Oct. 12-13). It will be the program's first appearance in the tournament since the 2009-10 season when Illini Chris DeForest took home the individual title.

The Illini will then head to Windermere, Fla. for the Tavistock Collegiate Invitational, which will be held at Isleworth Golf and Country Club Oct. 18-20. Hosted by both UCF and Texas Tech, the tournament welcomes the top 15 golf programs in the nation.

The fall slate closes with the newly developed East Lake Cup, a match play tournament welcoming the top four teams from the 2015 NCAA Golf Championships.

Illinois opens the spring season at the Tinervin Cup, a match play event against Illinois State held in Placida, Fla.  Illinois has won the event 12 years in a row, and will look to continue its perfect streak.

Once again, Illinois will travel to the Louisiana Classics on Feb. 29. Hosted by Louisiana-Lafayette, Illinois has won the event three years in a row, taking the 2015 title with a 22-stroke lead.

March 21^st sees the Illini at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters for another season. The tournament, in Las Vegas, Nev., will feature nation's top-ranked teams. UI will then head to the Floridian Golf Club for the Valspar Collegiate Invitational on March 21.

The Illini will close the spring slate with the 3M Augusta Invitational (April 2-3) and the Boilermaker Invitational (April 16-17) before beginning post season play at the Big Ten Championship.

Illinois returns four starters from last season including Big Ten Golfer of the Year, Thomas Detry, and U.S. Open qualifier, Nick Hardy. Two newcomers will join the squad as well, including Ronciglione, Italy, native, and European Tour qualifier Edoardo Lipparelli and Eureka, Ill., native, and two-time Peoria Journal Star Boys Golfer of the Year, Trevor Gold.

"I am really looking forward to getting the team back together this fall and continuing our quest for Big Ten and NCAA championships," Small said of the upcoming season.  "This fall will present the perfect opportunity for our players to continue to grow as both individuals and as a team, and to help set the table for a solid and successful 2015-16 season."