The week started off sweet for the No. 12 Illini, who claimed the top spot in their second outing of the young season at the Windon Memorial Classic.
Illinois shot a remarkable 828 (-36) over the two-day long event. It’s the team’s fourth-best 54-hole score recorded in program history during a fall outing.
A total team effort
The Illini got production across the board with stellar performances coming from all angles. Junior Max Herendeen led the pack for Illinois, shooting 10-under par and tying for second overall. Herendeen, who comes with high expectations, has yet to disappoint this season, finishing in the top five in each of his outings so far.
Sophomore Trey Marrion gave the Illini a sizable boost. Joining Herendeen in the top five, he boasted a 207 (-9) overall, a career best. Marrion stayed consistent, posting an impressive 69 in each of his rounds, which earned him fifth place overall.
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Sophomore transfer Freddie Turnell added to the team’s success. He barely missed a top-10 finish, tying for 11th overall. Turnell shot a 210 (-6), his best so far as a member of the Illini.
Other notable performances came from an upperclassman duo. Junior Dane Huddleston and senior Ryan Voois each tied for 14th, shooting a 211 (-5) overall. Voois originally got off to a hot start, shooting 7-under par in rounds one and two. But a frustrating 2-over par on round three dropped Voois’ score to 5 under.
Competition left in the bunker
Illinois’ historic outing left the competition with nowhere to go. Second-place No. 22 New Mexico finished six strokes behind Illinois, and third-place Ohio State posted a score of 21 under, which put them 15 strokes back. No team had more players in the top five than Illinois.
Next up
The Illini will look to keep things rolling in two weeks, taking on the Moraine Intercollegiate, hosted by the Miami Red Hawks. The outing will take place Oct. 13-14 and will be hosted at the Moraine Country Club in Kettering, Ohio.
