After a grueling three-day event, the Illinois golf team has officially moved on to the fourth day where they try to continue their march at a national title.
Illinois shot a three-round total of 844, which was good enough to land them in solo fourth right behind No. 3 Oklahoma State, No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 10 Arizona State, in that order. This three-round +4 showing by the Illini also landed them comfortably in the top 15, which is what they needed to advance to day four.
Now that the Illini are onto Monday, they are trying to advance to match play on Tuesday and Wednesday with a top-eight finish. After the playoff for the final spot, the top 15 teams will all be vying for the top eight. As of right now, the top eight would be at +13.
Illinois is well inside the top eight, as they sit at +4 for the tournament. They have a nine-stroke lead over the No. 6, No. 7 and No. 8 place teams who are all tied for the final spot at +13. A solid round on Monday should get Illinois into the match play portion, which has always been the bugaboo in previous years.
Who for the Illinois golf team has been doing well?
As a team, Illinois is playing well and has the fourth-best score on the course through three rounds. Who is the golfer leading the charge?
Obviously, Michael Feagles.
After a rough start to his national title, Feagles rebounded incredibly well with back-to-back 67s. These two great rounds has him at -4 for the tournament and in a tie for fifth place. He is only five shots back of Oklahoma State’s Bo Jin.
But let’s not discount what the other Illini golfers are doing on the course. Jerry Ji has really played some excellent golf. He is -2 through three rounds and in a tie for 10th place. Adrien Dumont de Chassart didn’t start well but has really started to get things clicking with his last two rounds at even par. He is +4 for the tournament and in a tie for 28th place.
Tommy Kuhl isn’t too far back of Adrien, as he has been consistent with a three-round total of +6 and in a tie for 41st. Giovanni Tadiotto isn’t having a good tournament, sitting in a tie for 109th with a three-round total of +14. But that is what I love about this Illini team. When one player is down, the rest of the team is there to pick him up.
This Illini team has so much depth. While Tadiotto isn’t playing well, the other four are clicking and helping propel the Orange and Blue to great heights. With the depth Illinois brings to the table this year, I truly believe this is their shot to win it all.