2017-18 Illini Golf

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#126      
Contacted BIG in Park Ridge.

Men's golf highlights are today at 3:30 CST with repeats later tonight. Quick response from communications young lady who said technical difficulties were responsible for yesterday's glitch.

Speaking of quick responses: on a whim, I emailed Coach Sloan (I'm not a stalker; her email is right on the Illini golf website) and wished her and the Illini well. I thought: who is this Coach Sloan, where did she come from? Revelation: she's Renee Heiken! I've got to follow Illini golf more closely.

She got back to me early this morning to say thanks! Wow!

Go ILLINI!

P.S. I've read Stone Creek, home course of Illini golf, may be in financial trouble. Is this so? And if it closes, where do Illini call home - the old orange and blue courses?

I live in DeKalb and want to get down there to check out Stone Creek. In an article, the owner said SC would remain open this season.

Stone Creek is losing money. It has probably never turned a profit. That was ok with old man Atkins. The kids look at it differently. A 'home course' nomenclature is not really relevant because the team never plays at home. There was a quirk in the schedule this year and they did schedule Bradley at home at the last minute. Prior to that, it has been years since they played at 'home'.
 
#127      
So does Grace Park qualify for nationals as an individual? I thought they took the top five from teams that didn't qualify. She is tied for 11th overall and I think there were 7 girls that were in the top 11 and ties that didn't have their team qualify.

Just found out that the top 3 individuals advance. Grace Park is not in that mix. Bummer
 
#128      
I agree with BRucks. But Stone Creek is Illinois' home course in the sense that it's where the Illini practice, I assume.

Too bad about Illini women - a ranked team not making it out of the regional.

Could happen even to mighty Okla State. All the hoopla; Golf Channel Ricky Fowler-produced show glorifying them as if it's done deal. (I have no problem with Ricky or Okla State - perhaps the greatest all-time golf school). But there are no guarantees.

Questions: back in the old days did teams meet head-to-head on each other's home courses? I think Stone Creek was the site of Big 10 Championship back in Stricker/Small days.

When did the invitationals start?
 
#129      
I agree with BRucks. But Stone Creek is Illinois' home course in the sense that it's where the Illini practice, I assume.

Too bad about Illini women - a ranked team not making it out of the regional.

Could happen even to mighty Okla State. All the hoopla; Golf Channel Ricky Fowler-produced show glorifying them as if it's done deal. (I have no problem with Ricky or Okla State - perhaps the greatest all-time golf school). But there are no guarantees.

Questions: back in the old days did teams meet head-to-head on each other's home courses? I think Stone Creek was the site of Big 10 Championship back in Stricker/Small days.

When did the invitationals start?
I heard Mike Small say that a team's ranking is based on who you beat. Good golf teams - i.e. warm weather teams - won't come north to play especially when the weather might be iffy. Thus, he chooses to take his team to tournaments where they can face several top teams on a given weekend.
 
#130      
I heard Mike Small say that a team's ranking is based on who you beat. Good golf teams - i.e. warm weather teams - won't come north to play especially when the weather might be iffy. Thus, he chooses to take his team to tournaments where they can face several top teams on a given weekend.

Unless you host your tournament at Olympia Fields :)
 
#131      
I agree with BRucks. But Stone Creek is Illinois' home course in the sense that it's where the Illini practice, I assume.

Too bad about Illini women - a ranked team not making it out of the regional.

Could happen even to mighty Okla State. All the hoopla; Golf Channel Ricky Fowler-produced show glorifying them as if it's done deal. (I have no problem with Ricky or Okla State - perhaps the greatest all-time golf school). But there are no guarantees.

Questions: back in the old days did teams meet head-to-head on each other's home courses? I think Stone Creek was the site of Big 10 Championship back in Stricker/Small days.

When did the invitationals start?

To answer your bolded questions, teams did meet head to head more often in the old days. I don't think Stone Creek has ever held a B1G Championships, however. It's been around since 2000 or 2001, so Stricker and Small would have never played there when students. OUr home course used to be the Orange and Blue course in Savoy until sometime in the early 2000s.
 
#132      
To answer your bolded questions, teams did meet head to head more often in the old days. I don't think Stone Creek has ever held a B1G Championships, however. It's been around since 2000 or 2001, so Stricker and Small would have never played there when students. OUr home course used to be the Orange and Blue course in Savoy until sometime in the early 2000s.

Ignoramous me.

Thanks for the info.

By the way, I posted earlier that Okla St. is probably the greatest golf school of all time. Wait a minute:

All-time (since about 1897) national titles (NIGA? and NCAA), according to Wikipedia NCAA golf site:


Yale: 20 (last in 1943)
Houston 16 (1985)
Princeton 12 (1940)
OK St. 10 (2006)

P.S. 2017 Fighting Illini Invitational: Illini finished 5th. Texas A&M won, Ala and OK St. ahead of ILL. Illini only 3 shots behind OK ST.

Yes, the warm -weather teams will head north for such a field at Olympia in early Illinois autumn.
 
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#133      
Yes, the warm -weather teams will head north for such a field at Olympia in early Illinois autumn.

And the reason they are able to get such a field is the opportunity to play at Olympia Fields, a course that has hosted multiple major championships, including the U.S. Open (2x). It is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
 
#134      
Yes. Other reasons: Illini are a golf power and the city of Chicago. I only hope players get a glimpse of this beautiful city of my birth and its golf heritage, but I suppose they're in and out. They're not there for site-seeing.
 
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#135      
Yes. Other reasons: Illini are a golf power and the city of Chicago. I only hope players get a glimpse of this beautiful city of my birth and its golf heritage, but I suppose they're in and out. They're not there for site-seeing.

They probably do a little sight-seeing.
 
#136      
I meant "site-seeing" in the specific sense that you visit certain sites and don't just gawk at things. Maybe I've coined a new word.

Thanks.
 
#137      
I meant "site-seeing" in the specific sense that you visit certain sites and don't just gawk at things. Maybe I've coined a new word.

Thanks.

Technically, "site-seeing" would be looking at construction sites or internet browsing :)
 
#138      
Emailed Coach Small to wish him and team well in the regional. I've chit-chatted with him and his players at Rich Harvest Farms where I was a volunteer during tournaments. He really doesn't know me from Adam, and he shouldn't, but guess what?

He responded promptly to say thanks for the support.

I'm impressed.

Illini may be peaking right now. Not saying they're gonna win the whole thing. Just get to the championshp round and let's see what happens.
 
#139      
#11 Illini are paired with #1 OK St. and #13 Texas Tech in the regional starting 6:30 CT today.

Just play the course Illini - forget about Okla State or anyone else.

Live scoring on Golfstat.
 
#141      
The Illini are known for their slower starts but so far at -3 in the very early stages.
 
#142      
How many teams advance from the men's regionals? Is it the same as the women, 6? TIA
 
#143      
And there you have round 1 in the books. Finished up at even par, 3 strokes behind first place Okie St. Other teams still finishing up.
 
#144      
How many teams advance from the men's regionals? Is it the same as the women, 6? TIA

Pretty sure it is only 5 peer region for the men. Think there might be one more region for the men as well. Too lady to search all of that on my phone, sorry
 
#147      
Either the Norman/Columbus regional sites are on harder courses than the other regional sites or the teams just aren't shooting as well. There's some pretty good team scores being put up at the other 4 sites today.
 
#149      
Either the Norman/Columbus regional sites are on harder courses than the other regional sites or the teams just aren't shooting as well. There's some pretty good team scores being put up at the other 4 sites today.

Here's the answer to your question:

"Because two other No. 1 seeds, Oklahoma and Texas A&M, were hosting regionals this year, top overall seed Oklahoma State, a nine-time winner this season, had to travel to Columbus, Ohio, for its regional. But Cowboys head coach Alan Bratton was excited to head north.

"The reason: He knew how difficult the Scarlet Course was and he knew it would separate the top teams more than an easier golf course."


https://golfweek.com/2018/05/14/columbus-regional-oklahoma-state-leads-as-top-3-separate-from-field/
 
#150      
Holding our own today so far as we move to the back nine. Keeping pace with Okie St. Putting distance between us and third place.
 
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