LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The No. 7-ranked Fighting Illini men's golf team rallied from 10 shots down during Tuesday's final round to secure an incredible, come-from-behind win against one of collegiate golf's premier fields at the Southern Highlands Collegiate.
The Illini opened the day in fourth place, but used a blazing start and a solid finish down the stretch to overtake No. 16 Texas, 36-hole leader and fourth-ranked North Carolina, and No. 14 Pepperdine, for the team's fourth victory in six outings and its second in as many events to open the spring schedule.
"We just wanted to have a solid day, come out and continue to build on what we did the first two days," head coach Mike Small said. "We just played solid, got through a little bump in the road halfway through the round and stabilized the round, and the leaders came back to us. It got tough out there, the conditions were tough, and we were able to get into first and hold on."
Fifth-year seniors Adrien Dumont de Chassart and Tommy Kuhl were once again crucial to the Illini's success on Day 3. Dumont de Chassart matched Kuhl's Round 2 score, a 5-under 67, to pace the Illini in Round 3. The effort helped the two-time defending Big Ten Golfer of the Year climb 15 spots into a tie for 16th with a three-round total of 212 (-4). Kuhl was also locked in throughout the day, following his stellar Round 2 effort with a 4-under 68 in Round 3. Kuhl's play moved him from a tie for eighth into a share of third place at 207 (-9).
Sophomore Jackson Buchanan and junior Piercen Hunt rounded out the final round scoring for the Illini, each posting a 1-under 71. Buchanan finished tied for 24th with a 54-hole total of 215 (-1), one shot ahead of Hunt who moved up three spots into a tie for 28th. Matthis Besard, whose 68 helped spark the Illini in Round 2, finished with a closing 74 (+2) and three-round total of 217 (+1) in a tie for 35th.
"This just shows that we put in a lot of work, and the work that we are putting in is beneficial," added Small. "The players are continuing to grow individually, and we're continuing to grow as a team, and it's just part of the process. There is a lot of season left, but to come out here - out of the winter at home in February in Illinois - and come out here and play against these top schools, and win, is a big accomplishment for these kids."
In addition to the Illini's ranked victory over the Longhorns, Tar Heels and Waves, the field also featured Oklahoma (9), Georgia Tech (8), Florida (11), Texas A&M (15), and Georgia (30), which finished fifth through ninth, respectively, as well as No. 41 TCU (11th) and No. 25 San Diego State (T13th), giving the Illini head-to-head wins over 10 programs that opened the week ranked inside the Golfstat top 50.
UP NEXT
The Illini travel to Tucson, Ariz., returning to desert golf to take on the field National Invitational Tournament hosted by the University of Arizona at Omni Tucson National Golf Club, March 17-18.
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