OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. – The No. 12 Illinois men's golf team moved up two spots to fourth place in the team race behind junior Max Herendeen's surge up the individual leaderboard after 36 holes at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational on Saturday at Olympia Fields Country Club.
Herendeen, a preseason All-American and Haskins Award Watch List honoree, followed his opening round of 1-under 69 with a 3-under 67 in Round 2, his career-best mark at Olympia Fields. He sits at 4-under with a two-round tally of 136 heading into Sunday's final round in a tie for third place, one shot off the lead shared by Oklahoma State's Gaven Lane and Florida's Matthew Kress.
The Bellevue, Washington, native was 1-over through eight holes in Round 2, but a birdie on No. 9, followed by consecutive birdies on Holes 13, 14, and 15, capped a strong, bogey-free back nine that helped him jump four spots to remain solidly in title contention.
As a team, the Illini posted a 277 (-3), eight strokes better than their opening round. They are 2-over, three strokes behind No. 4 Oklahoma State (-1) in third. No. 10 Florida State (-11) holds a seven-stroke edge over No. 19 Texas Tech (-4) in second position. No. 15 Florida State (+3) rounds out the top five behind the Illini.
Senior Ryan Voois and freshman Dujuan Snyman, competing as an individual, also made moves up the standings in Round 2. Voois jumped 12 spots into a tie for 23rd with a 69 (-1) in Round 2. He sits at 141 (+1) with 18 holes to play. Snyman carded the lowest round of the day for an Illini with a 66 (-4) and ascended 39 spots into a tie for 29th at 2-over.
Junior Dane Huddleston (+2) is tied with Snyman for 29th after posting his second straight round of 71. Sophomore Trey Marrion rose six spots into a tie for 35th with a Round 2 tally of even-par 70 to sit one stroke behind Huddleston's pace and round out the scoring for the Illini lineup. He is tied with sophomore Freddie Turnell who is competing as an individual.
Junior Ethan Wilson, the fifth member of the Illini lineup, and sophomore Jake Birdwell, an individual competitor, are tied for 72nd in the 81-player field at 12-over.
Sunday's final round is set to tee off with an 8:30 a.m. CT shotgun start. The Illini, paired with No. 15 Florida State and No. 2 Arizona State, will start on Holes 4-7. Live scoring is available at Golfstat.com.
