The Illinois golf team finished up strong at the Louisiana Classics tournament on Tuesday.
Illinois was consistent in the three rounds they played shooting 281-281-281. This was good enough to clinch a second place finish for the No. 11 team in the nation. They were only eight strokes back of No. 3 Texas A&M who shot a three-round total of 835 going 282-273-280.
The Illini have a deep team this season, and anyone can go low during any tournament. The leader for Illinois at the Louisiana Classics was Bryan Baumgarten. He shot a three-day total of -6 which was good enough to finish in a tie for third place in the tournament. This great play by Baumgarten was a carryover from his domination at the Big Ten Match Play a few weeks ago. His previous stroke play low this season was +10, though. This was a nice showing for this young sophomore.
Veterans Nick Hardy and Dylan Meyer both showed well at the Louisiana Classics as well. They each shot -4 for the three-day total and this was good enough for a tie for sixth place.
Hardy has played well the entire season. He dominated in the fall with three of the five tournaments finishing under par and getting second at the East Lake Cup in stroke play shooting +1. It is not a shock he was one of the best in this tournament.
It is good to see Meyer continuing his impressive hot streak as well. He won the Tavistock Collegiate Invite with a three-round total of -11 and dominated in the Big Ten Match Play a few weeks ago as well. This great play has clearly carried over and at the right time.
Michael Feagles and Giovanni Tadiotto both finished strong in this tournament as well. Feagles shot a three-round total of -3 which was good enough for a tie for 12th place. Tadiotto was -2 for the tournament and that got him in a tie for 19th place. Both of these golfers will be crucial come the Big Ten and NCAA tournament.
Next: Thomas Pieters continues consistent play on the PGA Tour
Illinois has four more tournaments before the Big Ten Championship where they are the likely favorites. They then move on to the NCAA Regionals on May 14 where they look to make a run to the NCAA Championships. The goal is a title this season, and this Illini team is starting to heat up.