CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini men's golf is set for its 12th consecutive NCAA Championship appearance this week, coming off of a victory at the 2019 NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional. The 2019 NCAA Men's Golf Championship will be held at Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas, May 24-29. This marks Illinois' 27th NCAA Championship appearance in program history, and the 14th under head coach Mike Small.

ILLINI AT THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

NCAA National Championship Appearances: 27
Consecutive NCAA Appearances: 12
NCAA Top-5 Finishes: 9
Most Recent Finish: 11th (2018)
NCAA Individual Champions: 2 (Scott Langley: 2010, Thomas Pieters: 2012)
NCAA Match Play Appearances: 6

QUICK FACTS ON THE 2019 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Course: Blessings Golf Club | Fayetteville, Arkansas
Par/Yardage: Par 72  |  7,550 yards
Live Scoring: golfstat.com
Twitter: @IlliniMGolf

SCHEDULE/FORMAT

May 24-26, 2019 - Stroke Play: 72 Holes

Friday, May 24: First Round (18)- 6:50 a.m. CT
Saturday, May 25: Second Round (18) - 6:50 a.m. CT
Sunday, May 26: Third Round (18) - 6:50 a.m. CT
Top 15 teams advance

Monday, May 27

Final Round (18) - 11 a.m. CT
Top 8 teams advance to match play and individual champion is crowned

May 28-29, 2019 - Match Play

Tuesday, May 28: Match Play Quarterfinals - 7 a.m. CT
Tuesday, May 29: Match Play Semifinals - 1:30 p.m. CT
Wednesday, May 29: Championship Match - 2:25 p.m. CT

THE ROAD TO NATIONALS

Illinois is making its 12th consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships and the 27th in program history this week. The Orange and Blue have advanced to the National Championship in 14 seasons under the direction of head coach Mike Small. Illinois owns the second-longest active streak in the nation, advancing to the NCAA Championship in each of the past 12 seasons; Texas has qualified in each of the last 13 seasons. The Illini have finished among the top five at the National Championship in six of the past eight years, highlighted by a runner-up finish in 2013. Additionally, since the match play format was adopted in 2009, the Illini, along with Oklahoma, have made the most appearances in that portion of the NCAA Championships with six. 

REGIONAL HISTORY

Illinois has made 12 consecutive NCAA Regional appearances and 18 in program history. In school history, the Orange and Blue have won five NCAA Regional titles and the Illini have seen four individuals combine for five NCAA Regional individual titles in the past 11 seasons. The Orange and Blue also earned four consecutive titles from 2013-2016, are one of just three schools (Arizona, Oklahoma State) to have done so. Illinois was the first school to earn four-straight titles since the early 1990s (Arizona, 1990-1993). The Illini are one of 13 programs to have won five or more regional titles overall. Oklahoma State leads the way, however, as the Cowboys have garnered 13 NCAA Regional titles in school history.

LAST TIME AT THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ranked at No. 10 in the nation, the Illini squad concluded its 2018 campaign with an 11th-place finish at the NCAA Championships after advancing to the final round of stroke play. Led by then-senior Dylan Meyer, the Orange and Blue carded a 7-over par 295 in the final round of play to finish 24-over par for the 72-hole portion of the event. Meyer earned his second consecutive top-10 finish at the 2018 NCAA Championships after a 3-under par final-round tally put him at 5-under par through 72 holes. He tied for fourth overall, finishing two strokes back from the individual champion. The finish marked the fourth-highest for an Illini at the NCAA Championships in school history.

THE 2019 VENUE - BLESSINGS GOLF CLUB

Blessings Golf Club is a premier golf club located along Clear Creek in Johnson, Arkansas. The course was originally designed by architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. in 2004, with a re-design recently completed by noted architect Kyle Phillips. The course plays through two distinct landforms, the Clear Creek floodplain, and a plateau that rises to 165 feet above the floodplain where it's bisected by a series of ravines. Both the outward and inward nines climb up and down between the two topographies, creating drama and variety on each hole. The clubhouse was designed in a modern style by Marlon Blackwell and has been recognized as one of the Top 15 most significant golf clubhouse structures in the world by Architectural Digest.

GOLF CHANNEL COVERAGE

The Golf Channel will provide pre-tournament, live and post-round coverage of the NCAA Men's Golf Championships beginning on May 27 (3-7 p.m.) when the individual national champion is crowned. Golf Channel's live coverage also will include all three rounds of the team match-play tournament on Tuesday, May 28 (10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 3-7 p.m.) and Wednesday, May 29 (3-7 p.m.). Golf Channel is set to provide comprehensive on-air, digital and social coverage produced on-site from the Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Ark., featuring more than 100 hours of news and tournament coverage. 

FIVE TIME NCAA REGIONAL CHAMPS

The Fighting Illini men's golf team used a 16-under par final round of play to propel itself to a team victory at the 2019 NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional. Junior Michael Feagles led the Orange and Blue with a 7-under par final round score as he earned individual medalist honors. Feagles becomes Illinois' fifth NCAA Regional medalist, and the Illini have won five NCAA Regional titles in the past seven seasons. Finishing the tournament at 25-under par in total, the 23rd-ranked Illini advance to the NCAA Championships for the 12th consecutive season. The individual title marked the first for Feagles in his career as well. 

Illinois NCAA Regional Medalists

Luke Guthrie – 2011, Central Regional
Brian Campbell – 2014, Sugar Grove Regional
Brian Campbell – 2015, Noblesville Regional
Nick Hardy – 2017, West Lafayette Regional co-medalist
Michael Feagles – 2019, NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional

2019 BIG TEN TOURNAMENT RECAP

Fighting Illini men's golf earned its fifth consecutive Big Ten Championship title on April 28 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, posting a 2-under par final round score to finish 28-over par for the tournament. Four Illini finished among the top 20 individuals, led by freshman Adrien Dumont de Chassart who shot 4-under for the round to share individual medalist honors with Minnesota's Angus Flanagan. The team title marks the 17th Big Ten Men's Golf Championship in program history, and the 10th title in the last 11 seasons, while Dumont de Chassart becomes the 21st Big Ten Championship Medalist in Illinois history. An Illini has taken home medalist honors in each of the last nine seasons, which is the longest streak in Big Ten Conference history. 

Prior to Illinois' run, the Big Ten has not seen such consistency from a golf program since the 1980s when Ohio State earned 11 titles in a span of 12 seasons from 1976-1987.  With its 2019 Big Ten Championship title, UI becomes be the second team in league history to win 10 titles in a span of 11 seasons. Only two other teams have won five consecutive Big Ten Championships, including Ohio State (1976-80, 1982-87) and Michigan who took home the trophy from 1932-36.

B1G POSTSEASON ACCOLADES

Fighting Illini men's golf was recognized by the Big Ten Conference following the Big Ten Championships as the league announced its postseason awards. Head Coach Mike Small was honored as Big Ten Men's Golf Coach of the Year for the fifth-straight season, while four Illini were selected as All-Big Ten honorees. Junior Michael Feagles was named to the All-Big Ten First Team, while juniors Bryan Baumgarten and Giovanni Tadiotto join freshman Adrien Dumont de Chassart garnered second team honors. Earning the 11th Big Ten Coach of the Year honor in his career, Small has led the Orange and Blue to 10 conference championship titles in the past 11 seasons, and he has coached seven players to nine consecutive individual Big Ten titles. During his tenure, he has coached nine individuals to Big Ten Player of the Year honors and seen seven freshman earn the league's Freshman of the Year laurel.

B1G SUCCESS UNDER COACH SMALL

Head coach Mike Small has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year 11 times overall during his 19-year tenure as Illinois head coach, and earned Dave Williams National Coach of the Year honors in 2015. He is a 2017 inductee into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame as well. The Illini have taken home the last five league championship trophies, and have won the Big Ten Championship in 10 of the last 11 years under Small's direction. Along with his streaks of five consecutive Big Ten titles (2009-13 and 2015-19), Illinois posted three consecutive runner-up finishes from 2002-04 and took third in 2008 with Small at the helm. His teams have finished among the top five at the conference championship in 16 of his 19 seasons at Illinois. 

Under Small's direction the Illini have won five NCAA Regional Championships, including a stretch of four consecutive titles (2013-16), and have now made 12 consecutive NCAA Regional appearances. Small's squads have advanced to regionals 15 times and have made 14 appearances at the National Championships including each of the last 12 seasons (2008-19).

#B1G INDIVIDUAL HISTORY

Over the years, Illinois has seen 21 individuals win Big Ten Medalist honors, including one in each of the past nine years. Most recently, freshman Adrien Dumont de Chassart took home the medal, becoming the first Illini freshman to top the field since current tour professional, Nick Hardy repeated as the Big Ten Medalist in 2018 after winning the title his freshman year (2015). Dylan Meyer took the title in 2017, and European Tour member Thomas Detry won the title in 2016. Charlie Danielson split the title in 2014 after Luke Guthrie took the honors in 2011 and 2012, and Thomas Pieters won the tournament in 2013. Illinois is the only school in Big Ten history to have produced nine consecutive medalists. Only Michigan (1932-36), Purdue (1956-60) and Ohio State (1976-79) join Illinois in having a streak of five consecutive medalists.

Illinois Big Ten Medalists (21)      

Year Player (site)

2019 Adrien Dumont de Chassart (Philadelphia, Pa.)
2018 Nick Hardy (Baltimore, M.D.)
2017 Dylan Meyer (Baltimore, M.D.)
2016 Thomas Detry (Newburgh, Ind.)
2015 Nick Hardy (Newburgh, Ind.)
2014 Charlie Danielson (French Lick, Ind.)
2013 Thomas Pieters (French Lick, Ind.)
2012 Luke Guthrie (French Lick, Ind.)
2011 Luke Guthrie (West Lafayette, Ind.)
1999 Larry Nuger (West Lafayette, Ind.)
1993 Jamie Fairbanks (Bloomington, Ind.)
1989 Steve Stricker (Madison, Wis.)
1988 Steve Stricker (Savoy, Ill.)
1986 Steve Stricker (East Lansing, Mich.)
1982 Mike Chadwick (West Lafayette, Ind.)
1962 Mike Toliuszis (Savoy, Ill.)
1942 James McCarthy (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
1941 Alex Welsh (Lake Forest, Ill.)
1931 Richard Martin (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
1930 Richard Martin (Wilmette, Ill.)
1923 R.E. Rolfe (Evanston, Ill.)

REGULAR SEASON RECAP

Illinois has finished among the top five teams in seven tournaments this season, taking home three team titles and earning two runner-up finishes. The Orange and Blue won consecutive fall tournaments at the MacDonald Cup and the Fighting Irish Classic, and closed regular season play with a 37-under par runner-up performance at the Hawkeye Invitational. Freshman Adrien Dumont de Chassart earned his first-career medalist honors at the Tar Heel Intercollegiate, also helping the Orange and Blue to a second-place team finish. 

BARLOW NAMED FINALIST FOR OUTSTANDING ASSISTANT AWARD

Fighting Illini men's golf assistant coach Zach Barlow was recognized as a finalist for the 2019 Jan Strickland Outstanding Coach of the Year Award presented by TaylorMade, as announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). Developed in 2003, the Strickland Award is presented to the NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA or NJCAA assistant coach that, among other things, has excelled in working with their student-athletes both on the course and in the classroom.  This season, Barlow has helped lead Illinois to three tournament victories, including consecutive team titles at the MacDonald Cup and the Fighting Irish Classic. The Orange and Blue have finished among the top three in six tournaments this year, and have earned 30 individual finishes among the top 25.

B1G WEEKLY HONORS

The Orange and Blue earned Big Ten Golfer of the Week honors four times this season, tying Northwestern for the second-most for a team during the 2018-19 campaign. Ohio State earned six Big Ten Golfer of the Week honors in five separate weeks as seniors Will Grimmer and Caleb Ramirez split the honor on April 10. 

Illinois has earned four or more weekly Big Ten honors in each of the last 10 seasons, taking home a program record nine during the 2014-15 campaign.

ILLINI IN THE PROS

Illinois boasts several former players among the professional ranks, as Steve Stricker, D.A. Points, Thomas Pieters and Scott Langley hold PGA Tour cards. Pieters and Thomas Detry are also members of the European Tour. Luke Guthrie, Brian Campbell and Dylan Meyer currently play on the Web.com Tour, and recent graduates Nick Hardy and Charlie Danielson are working to earn status on the Web.com Tour as well. Pieters and Detry have seen success in the national spotlight as of late, combining to win the World Cup of Golf in November.  Stricker, a 2017 Presidents Cup captain and 2019 assistant captain, has also been making waves, as he was named the 2020 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain and earned his first major victory at Regions Tradition.