STANFORD, Calif. – The No. 18-ranked and third-seeded Fighting Illini men's golf team followed up Monday's sensational start at the NCAA Stanford Regional with another round of solid team golf on Tuesday at Stanford Golf Course. The Orange and Blue fought through some challenging stretches to card a 10-under 270, and the team heads into Wednesday's finale with a one-shot lead.
More importantly, the Fighting Illini at 533 (-27) have built a 20-shot edge over host and fifth-seeded Stanford (553, -7) which sits in sixth place. The top five teams, at the conclusion of Round 3 will advance to the 2024 NCAA Championship, May 24-29, at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.
Freshman Max Herendeen maintains his individual lead after showing off his ability to battle back from early adversity in Round 2. After shooting a 7-under 63 with just one bogey and eight birdies on Monday, Herendeen birdied No. 1 for the second consecutive day and appeared to be poised for a similar result. However, following bogeys on Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 6, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year found himself at 3-over and slipping down the individual leaderboard.
Herendeen answered the call from that point forward, shooting 6-under over the next 11 holes – with four birdies and an eagle – to retake his position at the top of the standings. A bogey on 18 moved back into a three-way tie for first with Florida State's Luke Clanton and Texas A&M's Phichaksn Maichon with a 36-hole score of 131 (-9).
The experience of senior Piercen Hunt and fifth-year senior Tyler Goecke also shined through in Round 2 for the Illini.
Hunt, who is playing in his third straight NCAA Regional for the Orange and Blue, bounced back in a big way from his opening 73 (+3). He posted a 5-under on the front nine and offset a pair of bogeys on the back with two more birdies after the turn to finish with a season-low-tying 65 (-5). Hunt's performance moved him 29 spots up the leaderboard where he sits in 24th with a 36-hole total of 138 (-2).
Goecke, also making his third straight NCAA Regional start but his first as an Illini, entered the day two shots behind Herendeen in a tie for second following his opening 65 (-5) on Monday. The Xenia, Ohio, native was nearly blemish-free in Round 2, carding a 67 (-3) with four birdies and just one bogey, to climb one stroke closer to Herendeen's medalist pace where he is tied for fourth at 132 (-8).
Sophomore Ryan Voois, playing in his first NCAA Regional, factored into the scoring for the Illini for the second straight round with an even-par 70. He also overcame early struggles to match his Round 1 tally. After opening at 3-over through just three holes, Voois posted back-to-back birdies on Holes 4 and 5 and was 1-over at the turn. A birdie on 11 and an eagle on 16 helped him offset a pair of bogeys on the back nine. He is tied for 33rd at 140 (E) just one shot outside the top 25.
Big Ten Golfer of the Year Jackson Buchanan was unable to find his footing on Day 2 and did not factor into the team's score. Following an opening 65 (-5), he posted a 74 (+4) in Round 2 and is tied for 25th at 139 (-1) with one round remaining.
Illinois is one shot ahead of top-seeded Florida State (534, -26), and holds a six-stroke edge over fourth-seeded Texas A&M (539, -21). No. 2 seed Ole Miss (547, -13) and No.7 seed SMU (553, -7) round out the top five just ahead of host Stanford.
Round 3 is set to tee off Wednesday beginning at 10 a.m. CT/8 a.m. PT. The Illini, paired with Florida State and Texas A&M, will be among the first to tee off No. 1. Live scoring is available on Golfstat.
FOLLOW THE #ILLINI
For more Fighting Illini men's golf news, stay tuned to FightingIllini.com and follow @IlliniMGolf on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook.
More importantly, the Fighting Illini at 533 (-27) have built a 20-shot edge over host and fifth-seeded Stanford (553, -7) which sits in sixth place. The top five teams, at the conclusion of Round 3 will advance to the 2024 NCAA Championship, May 24-29, at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.
Freshman Max Herendeen maintains his individual lead after showing off his ability to battle back from early adversity in Round 2. After shooting a 7-under 63 with just one bogey and eight birdies on Monday, Herendeen birdied No. 1 for the second consecutive day and appeared to be poised for a similar result. However, following bogeys on Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 6, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year found himself at 3-over and slipping down the individual leaderboard.
Herendeen answered the call from that point forward, shooting 6-under over the next 11 holes – with four birdies and an eagle – to retake his position at the top of the standings. A bogey on 18 moved back into a three-way tie for first with Florida State's Luke Clanton and Texas A&M's Phichaksn Maichon with a 36-hole score of 131 (-9).
The experience of senior Piercen Hunt and fifth-year senior Tyler Goecke also shined through in Round 2 for the Illini.
Hunt, who is playing in his third straight NCAA Regional for the Orange and Blue, bounced back in a big way from his opening 73 (+3). He posted a 5-under on the front nine and offset a pair of bogeys on the back with two more birdies after the turn to finish with a season-low-tying 65 (-5). Hunt's performance moved him 29 spots up the leaderboard where he sits in 24th with a 36-hole total of 138 (-2).
Goecke, also making his third straight NCAA Regional start but his first as an Illini, entered the day two shots behind Herendeen in a tie for second following his opening 65 (-5) on Monday. The Xenia, Ohio, native was nearly blemish-free in Round 2, carding a 67 (-3) with four birdies and just one bogey, to climb one stroke closer to Herendeen's medalist pace where he is tied for fourth at 132 (-8).
Sophomore Ryan Voois, playing in his first NCAA Regional, factored into the scoring for the Illini for the second straight round with an even-par 70. He also overcame early struggles to match his Round 1 tally. After opening at 3-over through just three holes, Voois posted back-to-back birdies on Holes 4 and 5 and was 1-over at the turn. A birdie on 11 and an eagle on 16 helped him offset a pair of bogeys on the back nine. He is tied for 33rd at 140 (E) just one shot outside the top 25.
Big Ten Golfer of the Year Jackson Buchanan was unable to find his footing on Day 2 and did not factor into the team's score. Following an opening 65 (-5), he posted a 74 (+4) in Round 2 and is tied for 25th at 139 (-1) with one round remaining.
Illinois is one shot ahead of top-seeded Florida State (534, -26), and holds a six-stroke edge over fourth-seeded Texas A&M (539, -21). No. 2 seed Ole Miss (547, -13) and No.7 seed SMU (553, -7) round out the top five just ahead of host Stanford.
Round 3 is set to tee off Wednesday beginning at 10 a.m. CT/8 a.m. PT. The Illini, paired with Florida State and Texas A&M, will be among the first to tee off No. 1. Live scoring is available on Golfstat.
FOLLOW THE #ILLINI
For more Fighting Illini men's golf news, stay tuned to FightingIllini.com and follow @IlliniMGolf on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook.
| PLACE | 2024 NCAA STANFORD REGIONAL | RD1 | RD2 | RD3 | TOTAL |
| 1 | Illinois | 263 | 270 | 533 (-27) | |
| T1 | Max Herendeen | 63 | 68 | 131 (-9) | |
| T4 | Tyler Goecke | 65 | 67 | 132 (-8) | |
| 24 | Piercen Hunt | 73 | 65 | 138 (-2) | |
| T25 | Jackson Buchanan | 65 | 74 | 139 (-1) | |
| T33 | Ryan Voois | 70 | 70 | 140 |
