PAUMA VALLEY, Calif. – The Illinois men's golf team, ranked No. 9 nationally in the NCAA Division I team rankings and No. 8 in the GCAA's Bushnell/Golfweek coaches poll, opened play at the Pauma Valley Invitational Monday at Pauma Valley Country Club.
Ethan Wilson, competing as an individual, posted the a season-best score with a blemish-free round of 3-under 68. The junior opened his round off Hole 10 and posted 11 consecutive pars before a string of three birdies over a six-hole stretch on Nos. 3, 6, and 8.
Wilson matched LSU's Matthew Dodd-Berry for the lowest Round 1 score among indy competitors. He sit three strokes off the pace of Round 1 leaders Preston Stout (Oklahoma State) and Jay Mendell (LSU) at 6-under.
Max Herendeen posted the top score among the five members of the Illini lineup on Day 1. The junior opened with an even-par 71 and is tied for 27th. He was 1-under at the turn after posting a birdie on No. 6, and following bogeys on Holes 12 and 15, he got back to even with a birdie on No. 16.
Senior Ryan Voois, junior Dane Huddleston, and sophomore Trey Marrion finished each finished one stroke behind Herendeen at 72 (+1), to round out the scoring for the Illini lineup. The trio sit in a tie for 38th.
Sophomore Freddie Turnell posted a 73 (+2), and did not factor into the team score in Monday's opener. He is tied for 49th heading into Round 2.
The Fighting Illini carded a team score of 287 (+3) and are tied for 11th with No. 2-ranked Virginia with 36 holes to play.
The Illini and the Cavaliers sit two shots outside of the top 10. No. 15 Tennessee is in first place at 11-under, holding a three-stroke lead over No. 13 Ole Miss. No. 7 Oklahoma State (-5), No. 20 Georgia Tech (-4) and SMU (-3) round out the top five in the team standings.
Round 2 is set to tee off Tuesday morning with tee times beginning at 10 a.m. CT/8 a.m. PT. with UVA, No. 3 Florida and No. 28 San Diego State, will begin off Hole 10 at 10:10 a.m. CT/8:10 a.m. PT. Live scoring is available via Clippd Scoreboard.
