NCAA Champ Pieters to turn pro after college season

January 25, 2013 | by Golfweek

Thomas Pieters

Illinois junior Thomas Pieters, the reigning NCAA champion, will turn pro at the conclusion of this college season

Illinois junior Thomas Pieters, the reigning NCAA champion, will turn pro at the conclusion of this college season and forgo his final year of eligibility. "My experience at Illinois has been awesome, and I feel like I have had a very good college career, but my dream has always been to become a professional golfer, and the time will be right after this season," said Pieters, of Nijlen, Belgium. He was a first-team All-American last season after winning college titles on two PGA Tour venues. Pieters won the NCAA Championship at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., site of the Northern Trust Open, and the Jack Nicklaus Invitational at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, site of the Memorial Tournament. Pieters has seen his former Illinois teammates enjoy quick success in professional golf. Luke Guthrie and Scott Langley are PGA Tour rookies this year, while Chris DeForest will be playing the Web.com Tour for a second consecutive season. Langley, like Pieters, won the NCAA individual title while at Illinois. Pieters won the 2012 Monroe Invitational shortly after his NCAA triumph. He advanced to the Round of 32 at the 2012 U.S. Amateur after beating Jordan Spieth in the first round. Pieters played on Europe's victorious Palmer Cup team, the first Belgian to compete in the annual matches against U.S. collegians. "Thomas has had a great career at Illinois and has a number of impressive accomplishments," Illinois head coach Mike Small said. "But it's time for him to move on with his career and enter the world of professional golf. I'm sure he will have a great professional career because of his talent, drive and work ethic. He has been a true pleasure to coach, and I sincerely wish him the best. "We expect Thomas to lead us and have another great season this spring. As with all of our golfers, he will always be a big part of Illinois golf, and we will support him fully in his professional career."

Most Popular Articles

2026 U.S. Open Local Qualifying Results: All 109 Sites + Leaderboards

May 14, 2026Live results from all 109 U.S. Open Local Qualifying sites. Site-by-site medalists, amateurs, and alternates

RESULTS: 2026 U.S. Open Final Qualifying

May 18, 2026A deep-dive into all 13 final qualifying venues from Walton Heath, England to Sacramento, California

2026 U.S. Amateur Qualifying: Dates, Sites, Registration Info, and How to Enter

Apr 30, 2026Registration for the 2026 U.S. Amateur is opening soon. Explore every local and final qualifying site

Ellison & Scheck Win 2026 U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball in 19 Holes

May 6, 2026The No. 3 seed snaps a five-year teenage-champion streak. Carter & Snyder, both 15, fall in sudden death after

Why Pinehurst Is the Ultimate Place to Play a Two-Man Championship

May 19, 2026Competitive golfers take on Pinehurst during the AmateurGolf.com Two Man Links and Father & Son Championship presented by Titleist

Filters

Loading latest news...

Loading article...