EUGENE, Ore. – Three Illini posted top-10 finishes, highlighted by Jackson Buchanan's third-career victory, to lead No. 21 Illinois men's golf to the team title at the Duck Invitational at Eugene Country Club.
The win is the third of the season for the Illini, and their second in as many trips to the Pacific Northwest after opening the schedule last fall with a win at the Sahalee Players Championship in Sammamish, Wash. The Illini also captured the team title in February at the Hal Williams Collegiate in Mobile, Ala.
"These kinds of wins make a coach happy," head coach Mike Small. "When you struggle like we did in the first half of the first round, and coming off a weak event in Georgia, you're waiting for guys to show some resiliency, show some fortitude, and impose their will on the golf course. We did that, and it was fun to see."
The Illini were 10 over after Round 1 on Monday morning, but responded with the two lowest team rounds of the tournament, back-to-back 6-under 278s, to overtake host Oregon for the seven-stroke victory.
The Illini's 54-hole team total of 850 (-2) was the only team score under par for the week. And Tuesday's finale was seven shots better than the score posted by the runner-up Ducks.
"We built momentum, and the last two rounds we played really solid," Small added. "To shoot 12-under over the last two rounds on that golf course is pretty strong. Today was a big day. We dropped a 1-over, and we had two eraser scores at 4-under, and that's how you win tournaments. We played from strength, and didn't leave a crack in the door for anyone."
Buchanan's rise mirrored that of the team en route to his individual title. The junior carded a 73 (+2) in Round 1, but climbed 24 spots up the leaderboard in Round 2 with a 67 (-4). He then closed out the win with another 67 in Round 3, carding three birdies and an eagle to offset one bogey. Buchanan finished with a score of 207 (-6), three shots ahead of Utah's Javier Barcos.
"Jackson is a player that is growing - this is his third win - so he's learning how to win more and more over time." Small said. "He's growing as a player, but I thought his presence, the way he paced himself, and went about his business was very professional, and it was really good to see."
Freshman Max Herendeen also carded a 67 in his final round, moving up 25 spots to finish seventh at 213 (E). it marks his third top-10 finish of the season.
Another Illini freshman, Ethan Wilson, finished one stroke behind Herendeen in a tie for eighth to complete his first top-10 finish in the Illini lineup.
Sophomore Ryan Voois and fifth-year Tyler Goecke also carded closing rounds of 72. Voois finished at 6-over with a total of 219 in a tie for 31st, while Gocke shot a 220 (+7) to finish T38.
UP NEXT
The Illini return to action in early April, traveling to Augusta, Ga., for the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational. The event is hosted by Augusta University at Forest Hills Golf Club – just minutes from Augusta National Golf Club – and takes place April 6-7, concluding on the eve of Masters week.
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