FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No 12-ranked Fighting Illini men's golf team opened up play at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational on Monday and sits in third place with 36 holes remaining behind a career-best-tying score from sophomore Piercen Hunt in Round 1.
Hunt, playing in the Illini lineup for the third time in his young career, led the way for the Orange and Blue on Monday, carding a 3-under 69 to match his second-round score from last month's OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational. He enters Tuesday's second round just two strokes behind individual leader Luke Long, who carded a 67 (-5) to pace host Arkansas.
"Piercen played from strength all day, got the ball in the hole effectively and played solid, which a team needs from a player or two in this type of format," head coach Mike Small said.
The event, now in its second year, offers a unique twist on the traditional five-count-four college golf format, with all five golfers from each of the 10 competing teams teeing off in the same group.
As a team, the Illini shot a 2-under 286 and were one of three teams to finish under par in Round 1, trailing the Razorbacks who shot 10-under, and Ole Miss who edged the Illini by a single stroke with a Round 1 tally of 285. Â
"Overall, with this being a unique format for our team, I thought the guys held together pretty good today, and as a group played solid for most of the day," Small added. "As with any event, no matter what the format is, you have to stay away from the big numbers. We had to count two triple bogeys and a double bogey today. But besides those three, it was solid and pretty clean. We need to address those (big numbers), and we'll come out tomorrow and have a competitive day."
Junior Jerry Ji and senior Adrien Dumont de Chassart are each tied for 16th heading into Round 2, after shooting rounds of 72. Senior Tommy Kuhl (T22) rounded out the scoring for the Illini in Round 1 with a 1-over 73. Freshman Dylan Keating, playing in his first event in the Illini lineup, opened with a 75 and sits in a tie for 31st in the 50-player field.
The Illini tee off in Round 2 on Tuesday morning beginning at 9:30 a.m. CT. Live scoring will be available throughout the day on Golfstat.com. Tuesday's second round will once again feature live coverage on GOLF Channel from 3-6 p.m. CT.
Illini Individuals Finish 1-4 at Millikin's Country Club Classic
Four Illini men's golfers, competing as individuals, finished 1-4 at the Country Club Classic hosted by Millikin University at South Side Country Club in nearby Decatur, Illinois.
Freshman Jackson Buchanan took home top honors with rounds of 70-64 to finish four strokes ahead of Illini teammate Luke Armbrust with a two-round total of 134 (-8). Armbrust shot 71-67 to finish at 4-under in second place.
Junior Nico Lang posted rounds of 69 and 71 to finish with a two-round total of 140 (-2) in sole possession of third place, while freshman TJ Barger tied for fourth, one stroke behind Lang.
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