ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – The Illinois men's golf team, ranked No. 16 in the NCAA Division I team rankings and No. 17 nationally in the GCAA's Bushnell/Golfweek coaches poll, heads southeast to the scenic Atlantic Coast to compete in The Johnnie-O at Sea Island, Monday at Tuesday.
The event is the third of the spring schedule for the Illini who captured their second team victory of the season, Feb. 12-13 at the Hal Williams Collegiate in Mobile, Ala., before a strong top-five finish at the prestigious Southern Highlands Collegiate, Feb. 25-27, in Las Vegas, Nev.
THE SETTING
The Johnnie-O at Sea Island is hosted by Big Ten foe Rutgers at Sea Island Resort's Plantation Course in St. Simons Island, Ga. The course, originally a nine-hole track designed by Walter Davis in 1928, was redesigned in 2019 by Mark Love and his brother, PGA professional Davis Love III who annually hosts the PGA Tour's RSM Classic at the venue. The par-72 course spans 7,060 yards.
Individual competitors will tee off at the Sea Palms Course (Par 71 / 6,822 yards) at nearby Sea Palms Resort.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT
The 54-hole tournament will be a five-count-four format played over two days, with 36 holes set for Monday, followed by Tuesday's final round. Monday is slated to begin at 8:45 a.m. ET/7:45 a.m. CT with a shotgun start. Tuesday's final round opens at 8 a.m. ET/7 a.m. CT with tee times off Nos. 1 and 10.
The individual competition will open each day with tee times beginning at 8 a.m. ET/7 a.m. CT. Â
THE FIELD
The Johnnie-O at Sea Island field includes 14 programs vying for the team title, including six Big Ten opponents. The team competition is highlighted by six programs ranked inside the top 60 of the latest NCAA Division I team rankings. Playing alongside the No. 16 Illini are No. 19 Texas, No. 41 Notre Dame, No. 46 UNC Greensboro, No. 55 Kansas, No. 59 Kansas State, No. 72 Cincinnati, No. 84 Augusta, No. 85 Minnesota, No. 92 Rutgers, No. 94 Marquette, No. 95 Michigan State, No. 114 Nebraska, and No. 132 Penn State.
FIGHTING ILLINI LINEUP
No. 1: Tyler Goecke
No. 2: Max Herendeen
No. 3: Jackson Buchanan
No. 4: Ryan Voois
No. 5: Timmy Crawford
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Individual: Ethan Wilson
Individual: Jerry Ji
Individual: Piercen Hunt
LIVE SCORING
Live scoring for The Johnnie-O at Sea Island will be available on GolfStat for both the team and individual competitions. A Recap and results will be posted on FightingIllini.com following each day of play.
ILLINI AT THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS INTERCOLLEGIATE
The 2024 Johnnie-O at Sea Island marks the first time that the Fighting Illini will compete in the event. Rutgers first hosted the tournament last year at Sea Island Resort's Seaside Course.
UP NEXT
Illinois will head to the nearby Chechessee Creek Club in Okatie, S.C., for a head-to-head exhibition vs. No. 19 Texas on March 14. The matchup features two of the nation's premier programs, with the Illini and Longhorns having combined for 15 NCAA Match Play appearances – eight for Illinois and seven for Texas – since the NCAA Championship's current format was adopted in 2009.
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