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The Men’s Fighting Illini Golf team wraps up the golf season. Photo courtesy of U of I sports dept.
Illinois did themselves proud, even though they didn’t quite make the goal they had in mind, and NCAA National Championship in the 2014-2015 golf season.
Illinois fought hard through the four rounds of stroke play, and made themselves the No.1 seed heading into the match play part of the championship, where the national champion is determined.
But as fate continues for the No.1 seed in this format, the favorite has not yet won the title as Illinois lost in the semi-finals to USC by a score of 3 1/2 to 1 1/2.
“”We probably had the greatest season in Illinois golf history this year,” head coach Mike Small said. ” We finished second here two years ago, but this team was far more steady and more successful than that team was all year round. But it’s a tournament where you have to get hot at the right time. I’m proud to coach these guys.”
Illinois was pushed to the limit in the quarterfinals by UCLA, before Illinois rallied to win by the score of 3-2. Illinois trailed in all five matches at one point, but Charlie Danielson started a comeback that turned the tide. He won 7 straight holes and his teammates started to follow suit. In the final match of the morning, Freshman Nick Hardy came back and won his match 1 UP for Illinois to advance.
Then in the semi-finals Illinois started off string against USC, that had upset Texas in the quarterfinals 4-1. But little by little USC started to comeback. USC’s Rico Hoey holed a shot for eagle from the 9th fairway to turn his match against Danielson at the turn. Then Dylan Meyer lost his second match of the day, before Thomas Detry evend things at 1-1. After Danielson lost USC was up 2-1, Hardy rallied on the back nine with back-to-back birdies to go 1 UP after 13, but couldn’t win another hole. Senior Brian Campbell had a 3 Up lead with four holes to play but had to settle for a All-Square result and a half-point.With that the season was over.
“Brian has been a star at our place for four years, and I hate to see him go,” Small said of the departing senior. The rest of the Illinois team will return this next fall for the 2015-16 season.
#5 USC will play #7 LSU for the championship. LSU defeated #2 Vanderbilt and #3 Georgia to advance to the title match.