Despite Meyer’s win, Illini leave in fourth

Junior+Dylan+Meyer%E2%80%99s+individual+title+win+at+the+3+a.m.+Augusta+Invitational+was+not+enough+for+an+Illini+first-place+finish+this+past+weekend.+

Photo courtesy of Illinois Athletics

Junior Dylan Meyer’s individual title win at the 3 a.m. Augusta Invitational was not enough for an Illini first-place finish this past weekend.

By Gavin Good, Assistant sports editor

The Illinois men’s golf team squandered an opportunity to win its first tournament of the spring on Sunday at the 3M Augusta Invitational, shooting 2-over par in the final round.

The team entered the day tied for first with New Mexico but slipped to fourth by the end of the competition at 17-under as a team.

Junior Dylan Meyer’s title-winning individual effort was not enough to carry the Illini past champions Central Florida and runners-up No. 8 Wake Forest, who shot team totals of 28-under and 24-under par, respectively.

Meyer brought a four-stroke lead into the final round, where he shot even on the day to hold off Wake Forest’s Will Zalatoris, who went 6-under on the day to finish at 10-under in total.

The win was Meyer’s first title of the season. He posted a 67 for the first round, a 66 the second and a 72 in the third round, beating out Zalatoris as well as Central Florida’s Bobby Bai and Manuel Elvira.

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The rest of the team lagged behind Meyer, with freshman Michael Feagles finishing next-best for Illinois in a tie for 19th with a score of 3-under. Feagles struggled in the middle of his round but rallied for late birdies on three of his last four holes to finish the round at 1-under.

Sophomore Edoardo Lipparelli tied for 30th, shooting 2-over Sunday to finish the tournament at 1-under.

He bounced back from multiple bogeys early in the round with three consecutive birdies in the middle of the round.

Junior Nick Hardy came in at 1-under par for the tournament, tying with freshman Giovanni Tadiotto and three others for 38th overall. Hardy shot 2-over for the final round while Tadiotto went 1-under on the day — his best performance while in Augusta, Ga.

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