Yep won’t be too many sub par rounds. Vanderbilt might have the best score of the day maybe Virginia if they can do well on 18 and finish strong. Maybe GT too. Then the teams who haven’t gone are seeded lower so I’d expect them to not play as well but you never know. If they get hot they can post good scores.
Illinois Golf 2023-24
Currently even on the day and alone in second place after GT's Aidan Tran doubled on 12.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Hunt not contributing right now. Looks like the other 4 guys are on their own.
That's a bit risky. Hope they can avoid any disastrous scores.
That's a bit risky. Hope they can avoid any disastrous scores.
Great bounce back for Buchannan. Hope that gives him some much needed confidence for the rest of the week!
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
All four of our contributors are at even par for the day. Three of those four are still on the course.
7 holes to play.
7 holes to play.
Wow what happened to GT the guy who came in for lamprecht fell apart but so did like everyone. Good news for Illini if they miss top 8. They’re dangerous.
Stanford has a top 2 that’s insane and then another 1 that can be really good. Their problem is their 4/5/6 are mostly not good. But Filips and thornborjnson are both really really good.
FlyNavy
- Los Angeles
The back nine happened to GT, that's what. Tai was the individual leader at -5, but went bogey-triple bogey-bogey to fall back to even, and Tran had 3 doubles in a row. One thing the Illini have done very well is avoid the mistakes - one double bogey all day is impressive when you look at the other teams.
Stanford might hang around, but I expect OSU, Baylor and ND to move south on the leaderboard. We should be in great shape for tomorrow.
Only 1 double bogey all day is wild. This is how you win when you don’t have a ton of birdies. Limit the really bad holes. So many other talented guys are making triples, quads, etc. even Jackson did it yesterday thankfully the team picked him up. Tyler’s double could’ve been worse too, he hit it into the water on his drive I think. Also wow max almost just holed out
Max birdies 9 and the Illini finish under par for the day!
Yep that’s why Mike smalls teams have always been good in stroke play. They rarely make the bad disaster holes. It’s also why they’re better at stroke than match. The disaster holes are just as bad as a bogey for a hole loss. It’s what makes match play so different and hard. Also what a day for Max and Illinois! Tied Virginia for 2nd best round all day!
Another excellent round.
Illini Golf in the clubhouse at -1 for the day (second best round behind Vandy's -2) and +4 overall, 3 shots back of first and more importantly 7 shots clear of the match play cutoff line with a bunch of close teams still just starting (Only Virginia, Vandy, UNC and Auburn are within 7 shots and done).
Assured of an early start time tomorrow. Will probably be close to 10 shots clear of 9th going into 3rd round. Keep grinding.
This round is going to look mighty impressive when the day is over.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Predicting end-of-Round-2 standings:
1. +1 Virginia
2. +4 Illini
3. +7 Vandy
4. +10 Auburn
5. +11 North Carolina
I don't think any of those teams now on the course will crack the Top 5.
1. +1 Virginia
2. +4 Illini
3. +7 Vandy
4. +10 Auburn
5. +11 North Carolina
I don't think any of those teams now on the course will crack the Top 5.
One other number to keep in mind, Georgia Tech is currently tied for 11th at 17 over, but they are the 8th best score that is done for the day. So, if Ohio State, Baylor and Notre Dame score high in their rounds today, the match play cut line could climb as high as +17, which would mean Illinois would be 13 shots clear.
I guess there's a third number to keep in mind for teams that are not Illinois, as only the top 16 finishers today get to play round 3. That means teams like Tennessee, Texas and Florida, currently at +21 in 19th place and done for the day, are hoping for a few extra high rounds for the afternoon crowd.
The cut isn’t until after round 3. They play 4 rounds at the ncaa championships. After 3 cut 15 after 4 cut to 8. Then match play 2 days
Ah, right. I had 3/2 on the mind with almost every other event being 3 rounds total.
Anyway, Tennessee, Texas and Florida are already up to 14th, to give an idea of how fast teams are falling in the afternoon.
Ohio State is hanging in there so far at +10, Baylor is +15, Notre Dame is +19, and Stanford is +18 mostly buoyed by one player who's 5 under on the day. Everyone else is basically out of contention at this point.
Ohio State is hanging in there so far at +10, Baylor is +15, Notre Dame is +19, and Stanford is +18 mostly buoyed by one player who's 5 under on the day. Everyone else is basically out of contention at this point.
Yep osu has underperformed a little this year but this tournament they’re showing why they’re tough. Moldovan and Wallen are talented college guys and Shipley is a guy who’s already played a couple pga events. Getting good performances out of their other 2 guys too props to them. Purdue is playing mostly bad and msu and NW were disasters at the regionals
Vilips on stanfords back 9 was crazy impressive.
sure was, that is an absurd stretch for him. Their 4 and 5th guys are having a nightmare