The Hal Williams Collegiate: Illinois wins by three shots to go back-to-back
Illinois Men's Golf team (Illinois Athletics photo)
The Illinois men’s golf team, ranked 20th in the country, shot 25-under 827 to successfully defend their title and kick off the spring season with a statement victory for the second consecutive year at the Hal Williams Collegiate. Their rounds of 278-274-275 secured a three-shot win at the Magnolia Grove Crossings Course in Mobile, Ala.
LSU secured second place with a score of 22-under 830, posting rounds of 282-276-272. VCU had a strong start, opening with a team total of 273, but ultimately slipped behind, finishing third with rounds of 284-279 and a total score of 16-under.
Illinois started the spring season the same way they started the dal season, as they won the Sahalee Players Championship last September.
Related: SAHALEE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP: ILLINOIS, SUMMERHAYS TAKE THE TITLES
In the individual competition, LSU freshman Jay Mendell secured his first career individual title by a single shot, firing rounds of 67-68-68 for a total score of 10-under par. His teammate, Connor Gaunt, delivered strong performances with rounds of 72-67-65, finishing as the runner-up at 9-under.
Mendell is currently ranked No. 259 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com U.S. Rankings.
All five members of the Illini team finished inside the top 20, led by sophomore Ryan Voois, who carded rounds of 72-67-67 for a T4 finish at 7-under. Following closely was junior Jackson Buchanan, securing the 8th position at 6-under, fifth-year senior Timmy Crawford at T10 with a score of 6-under, fifth-year senior Ji Jerry, and freshman Max Herendeen, both finishing T17 at 2-under.
Illinois led the statistics in par-4s with an average of 3.95 and tied for first place for the most birdies with LSU at 56. Additionally, LSU freshman Herendeen claimed the top spot on par-3s with a scoring average of 3.25, while sophomore Voois secured the second position on par-5s with a scoring average of 4.22.
ABOUT THE Mobile Bay Intercollegiate
54 hole men's college tournament hosted by the
University of South Alabama. Team (best four scores
out of five players) and individual competitions.
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