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BIG TEN CHAMPIONS ILLINOIS take the lead at the NCAA Nationals in Arizona.
CAN THEY WIN THE BIG ONE!
WITH 2 ROUNDS COMPLETE-#3 Illinois has taken the lead at the Men’s NCAA Division 1 National Golf Championships.
The championship is being played again this year at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale AZ. on the clubs Raptor Golf Course.
Illinois was T-9 after Day 1, but surged early in the day with all four Illini top scores in the 60’s. But better yet for Illinois was that conditions were a little better for scoring, while Illinois was on the golf course.
“We came out with an edge today, came out a little more purposeful,” said Illinois Coach Mike Small. “Yesterday on our first hole, we had only one player hit the green in regulation. But today we came out on point and a little more focused. Which came with the Illini edge, and we need a little more of that. So that was the difference. We played solid golf. We chipped well, and putted well, made some good saves and drove it solidly. So It was day we played from our strengths.”
Three players shot 2-under par 68’s, Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Mattis Besard and Jackson Buchanan, with Tommy Kuhl adding a 1 under par 69. The seven under par day, was the second lowest in three years at the NCAA Championships at Grayhawk. Only 2021 National Champion Pepperdine in Round 4 was better with a -9 score.
But Small liked the late start on Day 1, with an early start on Day 2, feeling it’s best start times no matter how the first day goes. Florida is second three shots behind Illinois, and No.1 Vanderbilt is 10 back. But No.2 North Carolina is only 6 shots behind Illinois.
Dumont de Chassart is now in second place and three shots off the individual lead, with 4 under par score.
Tomorrow is the first cut down day, lowering the field from 30 teams to only 15. But on Monday the field shrinks to 8 schools, and they move on to the match play part of the championship.
Illinois has played in the national championship match before. But lost to Alabama, led by current PGA Tour star Justin Thomas.