University of Illinois
OFCC / Fighting Illini Invitational
Illini Lead After Day 1 at Olympia Fields
September 18, 2026 | Men's Golf
RECAP
OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. – The No. 12-ranked Fighting Illini men's golf team jumped out to a strong start Friday, building a narrow lead after an extended Day 1 of action at the 20th OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational at Olympia Fields Country Club.
With rain in the weekend forecast, the schedule for the 15-team field shifted to begin with two rounds of continuous play on Friday. The five members of the Orange and Blue lineup were among the 17 groups to complete all 36 holes on Friday, carding a 534 (-26) before play was stopped due to darkness. Illinois holds a one-stroke edge over the fifth-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders, who also completed 36 holes on Day 1.
Round 2 is scheduled to resume Saturday at 7:30 a.m. CT, with the final 18 set to tee off at approximately 10 a.m. CT.
With the event contested for the first time on the historic South Course at OFCC, the five members of the Illinois lineup combined to shoot par or better on 170 of 180 holes in Rounds 1 and 2, while posting 40 birdies.
Senior Max Herendeen tallied scores of 66 and 64, pacing the Fighting Illini lineup in second place in the 81-player field at 10-under. He sits just one stroke behind Texas Tech's Ben Gregg (-11) in the medalist race.
Junior Jake Birdwell and senior Dane Huddleston are tied for eighth at 6-under, just ahead of juniors Freddie Turnell (-4) and junior Trey Marion (-3) at T22 and T35, respectively.
Illinois' four individual competitors have recorded scores through 33 holes. Sophomore Dujuan Snyman is tied with Birdwell and Huddleston at 6-under in eighth place.
Freshmen Harrison Zipfel (-4) and Le Khanh Hung (-3) are T22 and T35, respectively, through the first 33 holes of their collegiate debuts, while senior Ethan Wilson is 2-under to sit in a tie for 44th.
Live scoring for the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational is available on Clippd Scoreboard.
| PLACE | OFCC/FIGHTING ILLINI INVITATIONAL | RD1 | RD2 | RD3 | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | 266 | 268 | - | 534 (-26) |
| 2 | Max Herendeen | 66 | 64 | - | 130 (-10) |
| T8 | Dane Huddleston | 66 | 68 | - | 134 (-6) |
| T8 | Jake Birdwell | 66 | 68 | - | 134 (-6) |
| T22 | Freddie Turnell | 68 | 68 | - | 136 (-4) |
| T35 | Trey Marrion | 68 | 69 | - | 137 (-3) |
| T8 | Dujuan Snyman (Ind.) | 68 | -4* | - | -6* |
| T22 | Harrison Zipfel (Ind.) | 66 | E* | - | -4* |
| T35 | Le Khanh Hung (Ind.) | 67 | E* | - | -3* |
| T44 | Ethan Wilson (Ind.) | 68 | E* | - | -2* |
* Through 15 holes in Round 2.
