The No. 10 Illini moved up the ladder Sunday, tying for third place at the Boilermaker Invitational. Illinois posted the final-round low round of the day, five-under 279, to finish with a 54-hole total of 842 (-10) on the Ackerman-Allen Course.
Illinois wrapped up its regular season strong, landing in the top five in its final four tournaments. Purdue hosted the Boilermaker Invitational, which acted as the final tune-up before the Big Ten Championship set for April 25-27 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Standout performances lead the charge
Senior Jackson Buchanan led the Illini charge, tying for third with a 205 (-8). He shot a 68 in the final round, which included back-to-back birdies on holes three and four.
Sophomore Max Herendeen was Sunday’s biggest mover, leaping 33 spots to tie for 13th. His four-under 67, one of the round’s lowest, included four birdies and an eagle. Herendeen’s third-straight top-15 finish highlights his growing impact as the postseason looms.
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Freshman Trey Marrion delivered an even-par 71 in the final round, tying for 23rd at 213 (E). His steady performance marked his fifth top-25 finish this season.
Junior Ryan Voois and sophomore Ethan Wilson rounded out the lineup, tying for 37th (215, +2) and 43rd (218, +5), respectively, each carding a 73 in the final round.
Challenging course tests precision
The Ackerman-Allen Course, a Pete Dye-designed par-71 layout stretching 7,275 yards, challenged players with rolling hills and tree-lined fairways. Minimal water hazards and white sand bunkers demanded precision, which Illinois showcased in its final-round surge. The event lasted 54 holes with a five-count-four setup. Players completed 36 holes on Saturday and 18 on Sunday, kicking off with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. CT.
Building momentum for postseason
The Illini have a rich history in the Big Ten Tournament. They’ve won 13 titles in 15 tries since 2009, including eight-straight between 2015 and 2023. Northwestern broke Illinois’ winning streak in 2024, leaving the team without gold for the first time since 2014.
Illinois heads to Baltimore Country Club next for the Big Ten Championship this weekend. The Illini look to return to their dominant ways as they aim for their their 21st conference crown.
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