MEN’S GOLF NEWSLETTER...MEN’S GOLF NEWSLETTER Two Events, Two Victories The 2016-17 campaign...
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OCTOBER 2016 - VOLUME IV EDITION X 1700 SOUTH FOURTH ST - CHAMPAIGN, IL - 61820 - OFFICE 217.244.1142 MEN’S GOLF NEWSLETTER Two Events, Two Victories The 2016-17 campaign began for the Illini at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate on September 10-11 in Zionsville, Indiana. The young squad wasted no time getting in the Winner’s Circle as rounds of 288 (+4) and 273 (-11) propelled the Illini to a 13-shot victory over Purdue in the rain-shortened event. The starting five Orange and Blue players all recorded top-six finishes. Junior Nick Hardy was victorious with consistent rounds of 69-69 to finish the event at 4-under. Hardy edged out fellow junior Dylan Meyer by one shot. After shooting 73 in the opening round, Meyer fired a 66 (-5) in the final round to finish runner-up. Freshman Michael Feagles finished top-5 in his first collegiate event with 73-69. Sophomore Edoardo Liparelli and freshman Bryan Baumgarten rounded out the starting five in a tie for 6th place. Both recorded an under-par round during the event. All seven team members competed in the event as freshman Giovanni Tadiotto and redshirt freshman Trevor Gold competed as individuals and both finished in a tie for 29th. The next week the Orange and Blue competed at the prestigious Olympia Fields North Course for the 11th Annual OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational. The field was stacked again this year with eight teams ranked among the top-25. The Illini came out hot with team rounds of 274 (-6) and 280 (E) to build a 21-shot lead heading into the final round. After a closing 291, the team earned a 13-shot victory over Oklahoma State University. Meyer shot 69-67-73 to earn his second runner-up finish in a row. Meyer’s second round 67 was the low for the day. Hardy posted rounds of 68-71-71 to finish in a tie for 4th. Baumgarten posted an impressive opening round 65, followed by 72-77 to finish in a tie for 22nd. Lipparelli also finished T-22 with scores of 73-70-75. Gold and Tadiotto also gained some great experience on a demanding course as they competed as individuals. After two wins, the Illini are No. 1 in the Golfweek rankings. Stay up to date with the team by clicking here to follow the team on Twitter and here for Facebook! Check out FIGHTINGILLINI.COM for the latest men’s golf news!
Transcript of MEN’S GOLF NEWSLETTER...MEN’S GOLF NEWSLETTER Two Events, Two Victories The 2016-17 campaign...
OCTOBER 2016 - VOLUME IV EDITION X
1700 SOUTH FOURTH ST - CHAMPAIGN, IL - 61820 - OFFICE 217.244.1142
MEN’S GOLF NEWSLETTER
Two Events, Two VictoriesThe 2016-17 campaign began for the Illini at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate on September 10-11 in Zionsville, Indiana. The young squad wasted no time getting in the Winner’s Circle as rounds of 288 (+4) and 273 (-11) propelled the Illini to a 13-shot victory over Purdue in the rain-shortened event. The starting five Orange and Blue players all recorded top-six finishes. Junior Nick Hardy was victorious with consistent rounds of 69-69 to finish the event at 4-under. Hardy edged out fellow junior Dylan Meyer by one shot. After shooting 73 in the opening round, Meyer fired a 66 (-5) in the final round to finish runner-up. Freshman Michael Feagles finished top-5 in his first collegiate event with 73-69. Sophomore Edoardo Liparelli and freshman Bryan Baumgarten rounded out the starting five in a tie for 6th place. Both recorded an under-par round during the event. All seven team members competed in the event as freshman Giovanni Tadiotto and redshirt freshman Trevor Gold competed as individuals and both finished in a tie for 29th.
The next week the Orange and Blue competed at the prestigious Olympia Fields North Course for the 11th Annual OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational. The field was stacked again this year with eight teams ranked among the top-25. The Illini came out hot with team rounds of 274 (-6) and 280 (E) to build a 21-shot lead heading into the final round. After a closing 291, the team earned a 13-shot victory over Oklahoma State University. Meyer shot 69-67-73 to earn his second runner-up finish in a row. Meyer’s second round 67 was the low for the day. Hardy
posted rounds of 68-71-71 to finish in a tie for 4th. Baumgarten posted an impressive opening round 65, followed by 72-77 to finish in a tie for 22nd. Lipparelli also finished T-22 with scores of 73-70-75. Gold and Tadiotto also gained some great experience on a demanding course as they competed as individuals. After two wins, the Illini are No. 1 in the Golfweek rankings.
Stay up to date with the team by clicking here to follow the team on Twitter and here for Facebook!
Check out FIGHTINGILLINI.COM for the latest men’s golf news!
OCTOBER 2016 - VOLUME IV EDITION X
1700 SOUTH FOURTH ST - CHAMPAIGN, IL - 61820 - OFFICE 217.244.1142
MEN’S GOLF NEWSLETTER
Illini in the Ryder CupIn the mix at the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine Golf Club were two former Illini golfers. Steve Stricker, who played in the 2008, 2010 and 2012 Ryder Cup, served as a Vice-Captain this year for Team USA. Stricker joined Captain Davis Love III, Vice-Captains Jim Furyk, Tom Lehman, Bubba Watson and Tiger Woods and the 12 American team members as they regained the cup with a decisive victory!
Thomas Pieters made his rookie debut for the European Team. European Team Captain Darren Clarke utilized Pieters to the fullest, as Pieters played in all five matches. Pieters and Lee Westwood were defeated 5&4 in the Friday morning foursome match. In the Friday afternoon four-ball match, Pieters and Rory McIlroy won 3&2. Pieters and McIlroy were a winning combo as they went on to win 4&2 in the Saturday morning foursomes and 3&1 in the Saturday afternoon four-ball. On Sunday, Pieters was victorious again, topping American J.B. Holmes 3&2. He becomes the first European Team rookie to compete in all five sessions since 1999. This also marked the most points ever secured by a rookie on the European Team.
Head Coach Mike Small was also able to share in the Ryder Cup excitement as Pieters asked Coach Small to attend the event as his coach.
Check out FIGHTINGILLINI.COM for the latest men’s golf news!
Scholar Athlete of the Week - Sept. 16
Congratulations to Nick Hardy for combining great academics and athletics. Hardy has a 3.01 GPA and is majoring in Recreation, Sport and Tourism. He recently garnered his first individual victory of the season, while also leading the team to a victory at Wolf Run.
Ask a Question, Get an Answer!Beginning next month, included in each newsletter will be a section where we pick a question from a Caddy Club member and include an answer from a team member or coach in the newsletter. So, if you are a Caddy Club member and you have a question for the team, please email it to Jackie Szymoniak at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing what’s on your mind and we hope you enjoy hearing what the players and/or coaches have to say!
Steve Stricker
Coach Small and Thomas Pieters
Photo by Brenton Tse
Photo by Brenton Tse
OCTOBER 2016 - VOLUME IV EDITION X
1700 SOUTH FOURTH ST - CHAMPAIGN, IL - 61820 - OFFICE 217.244.1142
MEN’S GOLF NEWSLETTER
UP NEXT FOR THE TEAM...Northern Intercollegiate - Chicago, Illinois - Beverly Country Club - October 9 - 10, 2016
Tavistock Collegiate Invitational - Windermere, Florida - Isleworth Golf & Country Club - October 16 - 18, 2016
East Lake Cup - Atlanta, Georgia -East Lake Golf Club - October 31 - November 2, 2016
Stay up to date with the team by clicking here to follow the team on Twitter and here for Facebook!
Check out FIGHTINGILLINI.COM for the latest men’s golf news!
October 21 - Caddy Club EventWe are excited to be in the second year of the Illini Golf Caddy Club and we appreciate the many supporters that have joined the club in support of the golf team. For the $100 membership fee, Caddy Club members receive a complementary round of golf with cart at the University of Illinois Golf Course and Stone Creek Golf Club, a t-shirt, car decal, monthly newsletter and an invitation to a team meet and greet event. Also, starting now, Caddy Club members can email in a question for the team to answer in the upcoming newsletters.We are pleased to announce that the Illini Golf Caddy Club meet and greet event will be from 5-6pm on October 21, 2016, at the Lauritsen/Wohlers Outdoor Golf Practice Facility on St. Mary’s Rd. This event is exclusive to only Caddy Club members and each member can bring one guest. The event will last one hour and during that time you will have the opportunity to meet the #1 ranked team in the country and also watch them hone their skills as they prepare for their next competition! This is the only time all year that we invite guests into the facility to watch the team practice, so we hope you enjoy! For anyone that wishes to join or learn more about the Illini Golf Caddy Club, please click here.
OCTOBER 2016 - VOLUME IV EDITION X
1700 SOUTH FOURTH ST - CHAMPAIGN, IL - 61820 - OFFICE 217.244.1142
MEN’S GOLF NEWSLETTER
Check out FIGHTINGILLINI.COM for the latest men’s golf news!
Getting to KnowBRYAN BAUMGARTEN
Freshman from Granite Bay, CaliforniaWho first introduced you to the game?My dad.
What ties do you have to the University of Illinois?Three of my four grandparents, my parents, two uncles and about eight cousins have gone to school at the U of I.
What has been the neatest part of your freshman year so far?Coming back to win the Wolf Run Intercollegiate and seeing what being a team is all about has been great.
Have there been any major surprises since you have been here?I have been surprised by how little free time I have.
Where do you prefer to study on campus?Irwin Academic Center
What is the average carry distance on your 7 iron?174 yards
What is your most memorable golf shot? When and where?The first tee shot of the round of 64 matches in the 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship at Oakland Hills.
Who is in your dream foursome?Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Bill Murray.
What is your favorite movie?Warrior
What is your favorite quote?“It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.” - Muhammad Ali
