Ranked No. 12 nationally, the Illinois men’s golf team heads to Las Vegas for the prestigious Southern Highlands Collegiate. From Sunday to Tuesday at Southern Highlands Golf Club, the Illini will face off against some of the best teams in collegiate golf. The team is eager to continue its momentum at this challenging venue after a strong showing at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate.
The course: A desert gauntlet
Southern Highlands Golf Club has a desert scenery and a challenging course design. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Jr., the par-72 course stretches 7,510 yards. It features a mix of different elevation changes and tricky bunkers, posing challenges throughout the event.
This layout will test every aspect of the players’ skills. With the tournament set for three days, the Illini will be competing under tough conditions, starting each round at 11 a.m.
Building momentum
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Illinois enters the week with solid traction after a tie for fifth at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate in Hawaii. The team has a strong track record at the tournament, finishing in the top 10 in their previous three appearances, including a team victory in 2023.
Heavy-hitting field
The Southern Highlands Collegiate consistently attracts the nation’s top teams; this year is no exception. Alongside a top-tier Illinois program, the field includes numerous powerhouse programs, such as No. 2 Auburn, No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 9 Virginia.
Other top-ranked competitors include No. 11 Florida, No. 16 Georgia Tech and host team No. 31 UNLV. The Illini will need to step up and perform at a high level against such stiff competition. Thirteen teams in the field find themselves ranked in the top 50 of the latest NCAA rankings.
Key players for Illinois
Teeing off for the fourth consecutive year at Southern Highlands, senior Jackson Buchanan will come off a strong tie for 24th place at the 2023 event. Junior Ryan Voois and sophomore Max Herendeen will each make their second appearance. Herendeen finished tied for 15th last year but is now coming off one of his best career performances and looking to improve this season.
What to expect
As the Illini aim for another strong finish, this event will be a key step in their season, providing valuable experience before the remainder of the spring schedule. Players like Buchanan, Voois and Herendeen look to lead the charge against a competitive field.
@mattisonleskis
