No. 13 Illinois resumed its season this week, opening the spring slate with a win at the Hal Williams Collegiate. The victory marks the Illini’s second of the season and gives the team its fourth title at the event, all since 2021.
Voois leads Illini to victory
Illinois entered as the only team ranked inside the top 60 nationally and proved why. Senior Ryan Voois led the way, earning his second career individual title after shooting 15 under par and tying Nebraska junior Rudy Sautron for first place.
After trailing Southern Illinois by a stroke following the opening round, Illinois used a second-day surge to take control. Voois led the way with a career-best 63 (-7) that included nine birdies. Sophomores Trey Marrion and Freddie Turnell offered support, each shooting 67 (-3), while junior Dane Huddleston shot a 68 (-2).
Strong lineup fuels title run
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While Illinois didn’t match its second-round performance on Tuesday, the cushion it built proved more than enough to secure the title. Illinois carded a final round 273 (-7), led once again by Voois, who posted a 66 (-4). Huddleston followed just behind with a 67 (-3), while Marrion and Turnell matched each other for the second straight round with even-par 70s.
Voois played exceptionally well all tournament, finishing just one stroke shy of the program’s 54-hole scoring record. Huddleston also delivered a strong performance, shooting a career-low 201 (-9) to finish tied for fourth.
Marrion and Turnell added top 25 finishes of their own, placing T-14th and T-23rd, respectively. Junior Max Herendeen rounded out the lineup. The junior tied for 44th, highlighted by his opening round 69 (-1).
Three Illini — sophomore Jake Birdwell, junior Ethan Wilson and freshman Dujuan Snyman — competed as individuals. Birdwell led the group with a season-best eighth-place finish after shooting a career-low 204 (-6). Wilson followed at 208 (-2) to tie for 20th, while Snyman finished tied for 57th at 216 (+6).
Illini set sights on Nevada desert
Illinois returns to action March 1 at the Southern Highlands Collegiate in Las Vegas. Last year, nine of the 15 teams in the field were ranked inside the top 25. Shockingly, Auburn was the only team to finish under par last year. The Illini will look to carry their momentum into one of the toughest tournaments of the spring season.
