Fighting Illini men's golf opened the spring season over the weekend with a friendly match play competition against the Illinois State Redbirds. Hosted annually by Jeff Tinervin at Coral Creek Golf Club in Placida, Florida, the Tinervin Cup gives both teams a chance to tee it up at one of the top courses in the state of Florida before officially beginning spring competition.

Illinois will return to Champaign with a team victory in the match, and four Illini will return with individual victories. Junior Giovanni Tadiotto, sophomore Brendan O'Reilly, Freshmen Adrien Dumont de Chassart and Noah Gillard all defeated their Redbird opponents, and freshman Tommy Kuhl halved his match.

Illinois will now look ahead to the Big Ten Match Play event, which will take place in Hammock Beach. Florida, February 8-9. The event welcomes all 14 Big Ten men's golf teams to Hammock Beach Resort, which features two courses, the Ocean Course (Par 72, 7,201-yards) and the Conservatory Course (Par 72, 7,776 yards).