University of Illinois
National Invitational Tournament
Illini Secure Top-Five Finish at N.I.T.
March 21, 2021 | Men's Golf
RECAP
TUCSON, Ariz. – The No. 4-ranked Fighting Illini men's golf team closed play at the National Invitational Tournament on Sunday at Omni Tucson National, securing a top-five team finish behind a trio of top-20 individual scores for the Orange and Blue.
After opening with back-to-back rounds of 11-under 277 on Saturday, the Illini closed with a 6-under 282 and a three-round team of 836 (-28), matching host and No. 17-ranked Arizona three strokes off the pace of No. 6-ranked Texas (3rd, 833) and one shot behind fourth-place finisher San Diego State (835). That group jockeyed for position all day behind No. 8-ranked Oklahoma State (817) and No. 2-ranked Oklahoma (821), which finished first and second, respectively, in the field that included 10 of Golfstat's top-50 rated programs entering play this weekend.
"It was a disappointing finish to a really solid couple of tournaments," head coach Mike
Small said. "Guys played well, we just didn't close like we have to and it cost us a couple of spots. But, all-in-all, it was a positive week; we've got a lot of things to work on and build on."
Senior Michael Feagles bounced back after an up-and-down Day 1. The Scottsdale, Ariz., native jumped seven spots into a tie for 17th with a final round of 4-under 68. Feagles closed the tournament as the U of I's third finisher with a three-round total of 210 (-6).
Adrien Dumont de Chassart, who led the tournament after Day 1 with rounds of 68 and 65 on Saturday, fired an even-par 72 to finish in a tie for seventh at 205 (-11). It marks Dumont de Chassart's fourth-consecutive individual top-10 finish of the spring season after the junior tied for ninth at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate, grabbed a share of seventh at the LSU Invitational, and tied for second behind teammate Jerry Ji last weekend at the Louisiana Classics.
"Adrien played another solid week, finishing with another top 10," Small added. "We talk about consistency in everything we do, and he's doing that. He didn't have the day he probably would have wanted with a chance to win, but it was still a solid tournament, all-in-all, and still early in the season."
Senior Giovanni Tadiotto also showed consistency to finish tied for 12th with three-round total of 207 (-9). He closed with a 1-under 71 in Round 3, and was one of just 16 competitors in the 104-player field to notch three straight rounds under par.
Ji rounded out the scoring for the Illini on Day 3 with a 1-under 73 and closed the tournament with a three-round total 215 (-1) in a tie for 35th, while junior Tommy Kuhl (221) finished 5-over for the weekend in a tie for 74th. Freshman Piercen Hunt, competing as an individual, finished tied with Kuhl.
The Illini return to action in early April, traveling to Augusta, Georgia, for the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational. The event is hosted by Augusta University at Forest Hills Golf Club – just miles from Augusta National Golf Club – and takes place April 3-4, concluding on the eve of the Masters.
| Place | Player | RD1 | RD2 | RD3 | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T5 | Illinois | 277 | 277 | 282 | 836 (-28) |
| T7 | Adrien Dumont de Chassart | 68 | 65 | 72 | 205 (-11) |
| T12 | Giovanni Tadiotto | 66 | 70 | 71 | 207 (-9) |
| T17 | Michael Feagles | 73 | 69 | 68 | 210 (-6) |
| T35 | Jerry Ji | 71 | 73 | 71 | 215 (-1) |
| T74 | Tommy Kuhl | 72 | 74 | 75 | 221 (+5) |
| T74 | Piercen Hunt (Ind.) | 71 | 74 | 76 | 221 (+5) |
