CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois head coach Mike Small announced Wednesday (Nov. 8) the signing of three incoming freshmen – Jake Birdwell (Blaine, Minn.), Joseph Buttress (Perth, Australia), and Trey Marrion (Chesapeake, Va.) – to the Fighting Illini men's golf roster. The trio will join the Illini next fall as freshmen for the 2024-25 season.
"I am very excited about what this year's signing class brings to our program," Small said. "Besides the quality of person that they all are, each one of them brings athleticism, high-level tournament experience, and a deep-seeded desire to compete for championships. All three of them will fit in perfectly with the culture that Illinois golf has sustained over the years."
QUOTING BIRDWELL: "I chose Illinois because the coaches are the best in the country. I want to make it to the next level and Coach Small is the best coach in the country to help me do that. The team environment and practice facilities are also one of the best in the country."
SMALL ON BIRDWELL: "Jake is a prototypical modern-day golfer, and he can 'flat out' compress a golf ball. His level of club head speed and ball speed is something that can't be taught, and because of that, he has the potential to be a very special player."
QUOTING BUTTRESS: "The University of Illinois was my first choice because of its excellent coaching staff and advanced facilities. I am confident that Coach Small and Coach Sondjaja will help me achieve my greatest potential. Another key incentive was the University's excellent facilities, and atmosphere. The campus is very inviting and has a clean layout. The University of Illinois was the perfect fit for me as I believe it's the best place for me to continue my career on and off the course."
SMALL ON BUTTRESS: "Joe's always in the mix at tournaments due to his high level of competitiveness and his skill around the greens. He has world-class talent, and combined with his grit and determination, he is the type of player that every golf team would love to have."
QUOTING MARRION: "I chose the University of Illinois because of the amazing practice facilities, elite coaching staff, and the beautiful campus."
SMALL ON MARRION: "Trey has a very strong work ethic and has achieved a high national ranking due to his steadiness and consistency. He is a fundamentally sound player with very good hands and touch, and we are all very excited about the level that he can take his game to during the next four years."
"I am very excited about what this year's signing class brings to our program," Small said. "Besides the quality of person that they all are, each one of them brings athleticism, high-level tournament experience, and a deep-seeded desire to compete for championships. All three of them will fit in perfectly with the culture that Illinois golf has sustained over the years."
JAKE BIRDWELL | BLAINE, MINN. | SPRING LAKE PARK HIGH SCHOOL
BIRDWELL'S HIGHLIGHTS: Birdwell signs with Fighting Illini after winning the 2023 Minnesota State High School Championship and being named as the state's High School Golfer of the Year. Having competed at the high school level since seventh grade, Birdwell enters his senior year in 2023-24 as a three-time all-state selection, a five-time all-conference honoree, and a two-time team MVP at Spring Lake Park. As a junior last season, Birdwell posted a scoring average of 69.2. Birdwell is also a three-time academic letter winner and a four-time member of his high school's A Honor Roll. Birdwell advanced to match play at the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur and captured tournament titles at the 2023 HJGT Disney Open, the 2021 JGAA New Year's Classic (Boys 13-14), the 2020 AJGA Preview at Meadowbrook, and the 2018 HJGT Links at Northfork.QUOTING BIRDWELL: "I chose Illinois because the coaches are the best in the country. I want to make it to the next level and Coach Small is the best coach in the country to help me do that. The team environment and practice facilities are also one of the best in the country."
SMALL ON BIRDWELL: "Jake is a prototypical modern-day golfer, and he can 'flat out' compress a golf ball. His level of club head speed and ball speed is something that can't be taught, and because of that, he has the potential to be a very special player."
JOSEPH BUTTRESS | PERTH, AUSTRALIA | AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
BUTTRESS' HIGHLIGHTS: Buttress is a top junior golfer in Australia where he has been honored as a two-time Player of the Year in Western Australia (WA) by GolfWA. He has captured championships at the South Australia Men's Amateur, The Victorian Junior Amateur (by 10 strokes), The Tasmanian Junior Masters, The Tasmanian Junior Amateur, and the Nedlands Junior Masters. In addition, he was a two-time runner-up at both the School Sport Australia National Championship, and the Australian Junior Amateur, while also advancing to the Round of 16 at the U.S. Junior Amateur. In October of 2022, Buttress ranked No. 1 in the 2022 Australian Boys' Order of Merit. He has been named to the GolfWA Junior State Team three times, earned two nods on the All-Australia Schoolboys Team, and been selected as a member of the GolfWA Men's State Team. Additionally, Buttress was selected in 2023 as a Golf Australia Cam Smith Scholarship recipient, the first from Western Australia, earning the opportunity to travel to the U.S. to spend a week practicing and being mentored by the Australian golf pro.QUOTING BUTTRESS: "The University of Illinois was my first choice because of its excellent coaching staff and advanced facilities. I am confident that Coach Small and Coach Sondjaja will help me achieve my greatest potential. Another key incentive was the University's excellent facilities, and atmosphere. The campus is very inviting and has a clean layout. The University of Illinois was the perfect fit for me as I believe it's the best place for me to continue my career on and off the course."
SMALL ON BUTTRESS: "Joe's always in the mix at tournaments due to his high level of competitiveness and his skill around the greens. He has world-class talent, and combined with his grit and determination, he is the type of player that every golf team would love to have."
TREY MARRION | CHESAPEAKE, VA. | GREAT BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
MARRION'S HIGHLIGHTS: Marrion, ranked No. 13 in the Class of 2024 by GolfWeek, has posted six top-25 finishes in AJGA events in the last year, highlighted by a runner-up this summer at the UHY Baltimore Junior and a seventh-place finish last December at the Jones Cup Junior Invitational. Marrion's resume also includes two Tarheel Tour RBC Tour Championships (2016 and 2021) and the 2022 Donald Ross Junior Championship title. A two-time U.S. Open sectional qualifier, Marrion is a standout at Great Bridge High School where he has been twice honored as the Chesapeake Sports Club Athlete of the Year for golf in 2022 and 2023. He is a two-time regional champion, taking home top honors in 5A in 2023 after also winning the title in 4A in 2020. He is a three-time all-region and all-state selection and has put together a high school career that includes a 68.03 scoring average, with a cumulative score of 107-under par, while finishing as medalist or co-medalist in every regular-season match of his career.QUOTING MARRION: "I chose the University of Illinois because of the amazing practice facilities, elite coaching staff, and the beautiful campus."
SMALL ON MARRION: "Trey has a very strong work ethic and has achieved a high national ranking due to his steadiness and consistency. He is a fundamentally sound player with very good hands and touch, and we are all very excited about the level that he can take his game to during the next four years."
