COLUMBUS, Ohio –The Fighting Illini men's golf team - ranked No. 18 in the latest Golfweek Collegiate Team Rankings, and No. 20 in the most recent Golfstat Team Rankings and GCAA Coaches' Poll – closes out the 2021-22 regular-season this weekend at the 50th annual Robert Kepler Intercollegiate, hosted by Ohio State on Saturday and Sunday.
THE SETTING
The Robert Kepler Intercollegiate – traditionally hosted at OSU's Scarlet Course – will instead be contested at Columbus Country Club this year as the Scarlet Course readies to host one of six NCAA Regionals, May 15-18.
Spreading out to 7,077 yards, the historic Par-72 Championship Course at Columbus Country Club played host to the 1964 PGA Championship won by Bobby Nichols in thrilling fashion over Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. The Donald Ross design has been drawing rave reviews since its inception.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT
The 54-hole tournament will be played over two days with 36 holes on Saturday, followed by Round 3 on Sunday. The low four scores will count towards the team score in each round.
THE FIELD
The Robert Kepler Intercollegiate features a 13-team field highlighted by some of the top golf programs in the nation, including eight of 14 Big Ten programs. The Illini are one of five teams ranked in the Golfstat top-60 along with four other B1G rivals: Ohio State (35), Michigan State (37), Northwestern (47), and Indiana (59). Kent State (65), Penn State (88) and Toledo (96) all rank inside the top-100. Rutgers (109), Michigan (117), Northern Illinois (140), Ball State (163) and Miami (OH) (164) round out the field.
FIGHTING ILLINI LINEUP
No. 1: Adrien Dumont de Chassart
No. 2: Tommy Kuhl
No. 3: Jackson Buchanan
No. 4: Piercen Hunt
No. 5: Jerry Ji
Individual: Nico Lang
ILLINI AT THE KEPLER INTERCOLLEGIATE
The Fighting Illini are teeing off in the Robert Kepler Invitational for the 40th time overall, and enter the event looking to defend their team title from 2021. The Orange and Blue have had great success in the event, with 15 top-five finishes. Head coach Mike Small has led the Illini to three team titles; the Illini were co-champs in 2011, won by 10 strokes in 2017, and held on for a five-stroke victory at last year's event. Two former Illini have taken home medalist honors: Luke Guthrie (2011 co-medalist) and Dylan Meyer (2017).
The Illini lineup features four competitors that helped the Illini to the 2021 Kepler title at OSU's Scarlet Course. Junior Jerry Ji tied for fourth place to pace the Illini at last year's event with an even-par 213. Senior Adrien Dumont de Chassart shot 219 (+6) to tie for 22nd, while sophomore Piercen Hunt, competing as an individual, tied for 25th with a three-round total of 220 (+7). Senior Tommy Kuhl tied for 48th last year with an 11-over 224.
LIVE SCORING
Live scoring for the Kepler Intercollegiate will be available on Golfstat.com. A recap and results will be posted on FightingIllini.com following each day of competition.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini tee off April 29-May 1 at The Pete Dye Course in French Lick, Ind., for the 2022 Big Ten Men's Golf Championship. The Orange and Blue are in search of their seventh-consecutive conference title, their 12th in the last 13 league championships dating back to the 2008-09 season, and the 19th in program history.
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