CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini men's golf and head coach Mike Small announced the 2018-19 fall and spring schedules on Tuesday. The Orange and Blue are set to travel to several of the nation's top collegiate tournaments, and will once again compete among the country's top programs.
Illinois will compete in four fall events, opening play in Olympia Fields, Illinois with the annual OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational. Illinois has played host to the prestigious tournament for the past 12 seasons, continually welcoming the top programs in the country. Set for September 14-16, the 2018 event will be no different, as No. 11-ranked UI will host nine other teams ranked among the top 25 in the final 2018 Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings. The 2018 field includes No. 1 Oklahoma State, No. 2 Texas A&M, No. 5 Alabama, No. 9 California, No. 12 Baylor, No. 16 Stanford, No. 20 UNLV, No. 22 Southern California, No. 24 Florida State, Indiana, Purdue, Air Force and South Carolina.
"Traditionally regarded as one of the top events in collegiate golf, we are grateful to the folks at Olympia Fields for helping to host our event each year," head coach Mike Small said. "This year will be no different as we are excited to again welcome the nation's best to compete on the tough, demanding North Course. I know that the visiting coaches and players truly appreciate the effort that the staff and the members at Olympia Fields put in to hosting this prestigious event and we are so thankful for their help year after year."
The Illini will then return to the Maconald Cup at The Course at Yale on September 29 for the first time since 2013. Then-ranked No. 17 in the country, the Orange and Blue earned a 25-shot victory over the tournament field led by Brian Campbell who set a new school record with his 197 three-round tally.
Illinois will take on the Fighting Irish Classic October 7-8 before closing fall play at the Tavistock Collegiate Invitational October 21-23. The Illini are coming off of a runner-up team finish at Isleworth Golf and Country Club, and took home the event title in 2015.
"We are looking forward to the fall season with our young team, it's going to be a great to build some momentum before we head into spring play," Small said. "We will play four solid golf courses, each a different style, that will challenge our young players and contribute to their growth."
The 2019 spring season will tee off at the Big Ten Match Play Championship, held in Hammock Beach, Florida February 8-9. The program will continue play at the Louisiana Classics February 25-26. Illinois will again appear in the field at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (March 3-5) this season, another of the nation's most prestigious collegiate events.
UI will continue spring play at the UNC Invitational March 23-24 before returning to the 3M Augusta Invitational. The Orange and Blue won the 2018 event, led by then-senior Dylan Meyer who repeated as the 3M Augusta Invitational individual champion.
Regular season play will conclude with the Iowa Hawkeye Invitational April 20-21, before traveling to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the 2019 Big Ten Championships. The 2019 Big Ten Championships will be held from April 26-28 at the Wissahickon Course at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Founded in 1854, The Philadelphia Cricket Club is one of the oldest clubs in the country devoted to the playing of games.
Post season play will continue at one of six NCAA Regional sites, May 13-15. The regional sites include TPC Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; University of Georgia Golf Course, Athens, Georgia; University of Louisville Golf Club, Louisville, Kentucky; Harvester Course, Rhodes, Iowa; Stanford Golf Course, Stanford, California and Palouse Ridge Golf Club, Pullman, Washington.
The 2019 NCAA Men's Golf Championships are set for May 24-29 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Schedule dates are subject to change.
Stay tuned to FightingIllini.com for all the latest on Illinois men's golf.
