SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The Fighting Illini men's golf team concluded its chase for the 2023 national title on Tuesday, falling in a hard-fought battle with Florida State, 3-2, in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Men's Golf Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club's Raptor Course.

Illinois entered the week as the No. 3 seed, and led after Days 2 and 3 of stroke play before ultimately finishing in a tie for second with Florida during Monday's stroke play finale. The Illini were again designated the No. 3 seed in match play, based on a tie-breaker that went to the Gators, to set up Tuesday's matchup with Seminoles who finished sixth after 72 holes of stroke play.

Despite the loss, the quarterfinal berth secures a fifth-place tie for the Orange and Blue in the final NCAA Championship standings, the program's eighth top-five national finish under head coach Mike Small since the current format was adopted in 2009 - a mark that ranks second nationally.

"The season these guys had should be talked about," Small said of his team's overall body of work in the latest of a string of successful campaigns under his 23 years of direction. "It should be remembered because of the wins and getting here (to NCAA match play), and just playing how they did from August until now."

A catalyst for the Illini's sustained success over the past five years, and again in Tuesday's quarterfinal, was fifth-year seniors Adrien Dumont de Chassart and Tommy Kuhl, who concluded their storied collegiate careers by notching the team's two victories in the match vs. the Seminoles.

"These guys care," added Small. "These veterans, they wanted it. They wanted to do something different. And they did, if you look at the season, but it's just hard. They care. That's what you want. Any coach in any program wants kids that care, and that doesn't always happen. A lot of kids just don't care to the level that they need to really push themselves and be great. But these guys do, and that's what I appreciate."  

Kuhl posted the first point of the match, a 3&2 victory over Jack Bigham, and following a narrow defeat (1 up) for Matthis Besard vs. Cole Anderson, Dumont de Chassart gave the Illini a 2-1 edge by closing out Frederik Kjettrup, 3&2.

And with the Illini's trio of fifth-year seniors finished, the decision hinged on matches of junior Piercen Hunt and sophomore Jackson Buchanan.

Hunt, despite carding the second-lowest round of the day for the Illini (over the course of his 16 holes), was unable to catch FSU's Brett Roberts who tied the match with a 3&2 win.

Buchanan, as he has done all season, battled to the end to keep the pressure on the Seminoles' Luke Clanton, including an incredible hole-out from the green-side bunker on No. 8. But with Clanton clinging to a 1-hole edge as they teed off on No. 9, Buchanan's tee shot found the right rough, and his second shot came up short of the green to the left. Buchanan's ensuing chip took a tough bounce and kicked past the hole, allowing Clanton to two-putt for the win.

"It's a total team effort, it's nothing on them," said Kuhl of the narrow losses by Buchanan, Hunt and Besard. "That's golf. You get beat sometimes. I'd just tell them to keep their heads up. They probably want to blame it on themselves, but that's not the right mindset. It's golf. You get beat. Jackson played great golf all week. He's got a very bright future, and Piercen does too. And for Matthis, (that was) a hard loss for him on 18. But what he's done for our team this year ... we wouldn't be where we are without him. I'm just grateful for everyone on this team and I love all of them."

"We're all very disappointed," added Dumont de Chassart. "We all care so much, and love each other, and it's just always tough when it comes to an end earlier than expected. But no regrets. We all played as hard as we could. It's just that Florida State played better today. That's a tough reality."