Fresh off his second Big Ten Golfer of the Week award of the season, Thomas Detry put together yet another strong performance for the Illinois men’s golf team in the Louisiana Classics in Lafayette, La., on Monday and Tuesday.

After recording three consecutive victories in each of his matches at the Big Ten Match Play Championship in mid-February, Detry continued his hot streak. He shot a total of 203 over three rounds in two days, leading all players. He led Illinois to its third consecutive Louisiana Classics victory.

“Detry’s been working really hard the last six months and it’s starting to show and pay off,” head coach Mike Small said in a press release. “He played consistently all two days and handled his emotions well. He scrambled really well too, he hit the ball out of play a few times and got it back in play to make some good saves for birdie and par.”

Hosted by the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns golf team on the par 72, 7,098-yard Oakbourne Country Club in Lafayette, La., the Louisiana Classics set itself up to be a difficult test for Illinois. The field was made up of 14 teams, including power conference opponents Kansas, Mississippi State and Big Ten rival Northwestern.

Illinois took a firm lead from the start Monday, finishing round one with a combined score of 278, and all five golfers in the top-30.

Rounds two and three was no different. The Illini finished with scores of 279 and 288 to finish with a combined score of 845 and take home first place. Texas State, Louisiana, Kent State and Kansas finished with scores of 867, 873, 876, and 877, respectively, to round out the top five.

Illinois dominated on the individual leaderboard as well. Three of the five Illini who competed finished in the top five overall. Junior Thomas Detry shot a 203 to finish first overall and junior Charlie Danielson and senior Brian Campbell shot 213 and tied for fifth overall. The remaining two Illini, freshmen Dylan Myer and Nick Hardy, finished just outside of the top 30, each totalling scores of 222 to tie for 32nd.

This victory gives Illinois its third of the season and second against out-of-state competition. Starting off the season strongly has allowed Illinois to retain its No. 1 ranking.

Their ranking will be tested in next week’s Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters, which will take place next week at the Southern Highlands Golf Club in Las Vegas. The Collegiate Masters will have 10 of the top-25 ranked teams in the country competing in the field of 15.

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