Illinois Golf: Illini have the talent to win the NCAA Championship

The men’s Illinois golf team continues to do some special things on the course.

There are numerous Illini scattered throughout the professional ranks. Thomas Detry and Nick Hardy are tearing it up on the PGA Tour, and there are a handful of former Illinois golfers who are trying to work their way up to the top tier.

These former Illinois golfers did wonders while in Champaign. They set records and won titles at a rate that many had not seen before. What eluded these players was a national title, though. Illinois hasn’t been able to secure that coveted team championship.

Despite not winning a national title, Illinois golfers have been extremely successful. We have now won 13 out of the past 14 Big Ten Championships, which includes taking the title home in 2023.

Illinois also qualified for the NCAA Regional once again and advanced to the NCAA Championship for the 14th time in the last 15 chances.

Illinois golf has a chance to win their first team title at the NCAA Championship

Over the years, Illinois has had two individual NCAA Championships, but that team title is one that is in sight, especially with the team they are putting out on the course this season.

On May 26, the Illini will tee off in the stroke play portion of the NCAA Championships led by one of the best golfers in the country in Adrien Dumont de Chassart. He finished with a team-best stroke average of 69.54 this season. Dumont de Chassart is also ranked as the No. 6 college golfer in the country.

This team is more than just Dumont de Chassart, though. We have five golfers with a sub-72 average. On top of that, the pure dominance of the Illini this season has been something to watch.

Out of the 12 tournaments – including the Big Ten Championship and the NCAA Regional – Illinois has finished at worst fourth in every event. We have won seven out of the 12 tournaments as well.

Illinois is turning up the temperature here at the end of the season too. In the Big Ten Championship and the NCAA Regional, our top four golfers all finished under par in those events. In the past, Illinois golf had been top-heavy, but this team is one of the most balanced programs I have seen for the Orange and Blue.

This could be the year Illinois finally breaks through the NCAA Championship barrier. We have the horses to win this thing. Let’s see them bring home the chip.