LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The No. 12 Fighting Illini men's golf team closed out play at the Southern Highlands Collegiate on Tuesday, picking up head-to-head wins over four top 30-ranked programs with a 10th-place finish at Southern Highlands Golf Club.
The Illini closed with their lowest team score of the week on Tuesday, a 1-over 289, capping off a 54-hole score of 887 (+23).
Junior Ryan Voois posted his fourth consecutive top-25 finish, leading the Illini in a tie for 21st with a three-round total of 221 (+5). After an opening round of 79 (+7), Voois carded a 70 (-2) in Round 2 and an even-par 72 in Round 3 to jump 38 spots up the individual leaderboard over the final 36 holes.
Sophomore Max Herendeen carded rounds of 75-73-75 to close his week two shots behind Voois in a tie for 30th with final tally of 223 (+7).
Behind Voois and Herendeen, the three other members of the Illini lineup tied for 39th at 225 (+9). Sophomore Ethan Wilson bounced back from rounds of 78 and 77 to post a team-leading 2-under 70 in Round 3. Senior Jackson Buchanan also posted his best round of the week on Tuesday, following back-to-back 76s with a 73 (+1) in Round 3. Freshman Trey Marrion, who led the Illini after a 73 (+1) in Round 1 but struggled with a 6-over 78 on Monday, also bounced back in the finale with a 74 (+2).
Freshman Jake Birdwell, competing as an individual, tied for 54th with a score of 227 (+11).
No. 2-ranked Auburn carded an 855 (-9) to run away with the team title by 10 strokes over host UNLV (+1). New Mexico (+7), No. 9 Virginia (+10) finished third and fourth, respectively, while No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 11 Florida and No. 24 Pepperdine and No. 26 Texas A&M shot 19-over to tie for fifth. Big Ten newcomer USC (+20) finished three strokes ahead of the Illini. No. 22 San Diego State (+29), No. 18 SMU (+31), No. 16 Georgia Tech (+32), Washington (+44), and #30 Georgia (+48) rounded out the team results.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini head to Southern California where they will tee off at the Pauma Valley Invitational hosted by Loyola Marymount, March 17-18. The event will be contested at Pauma Valley Country Club, located approximately 35 miles east of the site of the NCAA Championship at OMNI La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad.
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