Illini Golf 2025-2026

#27      
Very excited to see Dane this year, he was a monster last year as a sophomore, dominated their competition. This will be step up but scores are scores and he had plenty of low scores.

Speaking of competition we are light this fall, only 4 matches. I like it when they have 5 much better. We are missing that first one which in the past has been the folds of honor or Sahalee which are stern early season tests.
 
#28      
Very excited to see Dane this year, he was a monster last year as a sophomore, dominated their competition. This will be step up but scores are scores and he had plenty of low scores.

Speaking of competition we are light this fall, only 4 matches. I like it when they have 5 much better. We are missing that first one which in the past has been the folds of honor or Sahalee which are stern early season tests.

I wonder if Coach will set up a scrimmage similar to what they did w/ Florida State last year. Starting the season with OFCC will be a challenge - check out this field:

https://scoreboard.clippd.com/tournaments/238806/scoring/participants
 
#34      
Alright, big day tomorrow with the opener, what an even it is?! 9 of the preseason top 20 are in this, including number 1 in the nation Ok St, other rankings have Texas number 1, who are also at this. Huge test to start the season out.
 
#35      
Don't know, don't think Golf Channel is covering OFCC event. It should. GC covered Jack Stephens at Shoreacres, superb course, beautiful views of the lake. Too much pro stuff going on this weekend, I guess.
 
#39      
gave three back on the final hole, which looks like a bruiser. Not a great start for sure. Ethan with a disaster on the front.
 
#40      
Didn't shoot ourselves out of it with the lead being at -1, but need to find a little form here today. It looks like if we can manage anything under par today we will move right up this leaderboard. I imagine with all the talent at this match somebody will go low today, maybe a couple of teams.
 
#44      
Very nice day yesterday for sure, do that again and let the chips fall where they may. Very little chance Florida goes high. They are a veteran team with loads of talent. Ian Poulter's son is a redshirt junior on this team and preseason all-American.

speaking of all-American's Max is a stud. Right there, with some very stiff competition mind you, for the individual. There is a sophomore on Texas Tech in the mix, Connor Graham from Scotland, that had an outstanding Freshman year and I am willing to bet we will see on the tour when his time there is done. Also, Texas tech has a sophomore Wheaton Ennis that is an absolute stick. Big day tomorrow for Max.

If we want to go crazy low we need one of the guys lower on the ladder to get red hot. Dean perhaps flashes that high end game he had last year and throws in a -4/-5. Trey needs to keep the floor high like he did today with a solid even par and lets hope somebody gets red hot besides Max.
 
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#45      
Another bad 18th hole today, however the team played well overall against a very strong field.
 
#47      
Illinois showed their strength with the lowest final two rounds at -7 of any team. Really solid paly by the two leaders in Ryan and Max. Max with a bad stretch that included a double on the 9th put him behind the 8ball for the individual. Really impressed with Trey yesterday. holding it together and going -2 on the final two days is great work from you 4 guy. 1-4 we were excellent.

Ethan really didn't play well. I have to think he is gonna have a real fight on his hands for the 5th spot. Tunnell is probably the biggest contender but Snyman had a great second round that shows that going low is in his game. his 66 was the lowest for the entire team. That being said playing as an individual is different then being part of the lineup. I am sure Small has a qualifying system that will be competitive for the next match.
 
#50      
Overall a good start to the season. We need to fix the 5 spot. We need to find a guy out of Ethan, Jake or some of the new guys. We are deep but we need someone to step up and grab that 5 spot.
honestly, I am typically a floor guy with the 5th spot. meaning I want a steady golfer that is around par but if one of the top guys flame out he is there to not let the score go too off the rails. But, with this team I think the top three are gonna be really good almost all of the time and Trey is that floor guy around par. I might be inclined to go with a 5th guy that can either shoot 76 or 66. If you get the odd really low round from your 5th guy that is the difference between top 5 and a W. Many college coaches want a team of that type of player and then pray that it all works out and then steal a tournament here or there. We are better then that of course the talent base we have means we are almost always in contention if we play our game, don't have to have the 'dream' week.
 
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