MOBILE, Ala. – The Fighting Illini men's golf team, ranked 13th in the NCAA team rankings and No. 6 by the GCAA poll, posted a team score of 536 (-24) to stake to a seven-stroke lead through 36 holes at the Hal Williams Collegiate at Magnolia Grove Golf Clubs Crossings Course on Monday.
Senior Ryan Voois led the Way for the Orange and Blue on Day 1, carding an opening 66, followed by a career-best round of 63, to sit two shots off the medalist pace at 11-under. Voois was blemish free to card 4-under in Round 1, and offset a pair of bogeys with nine birdies in Round 2 to reach his personal best.
Behind Voois, four of the five members of the Fighting Illini scoring lineup – plus two members of the Illinois squad competing as individuals – posted top 25 scores heading into Tuesday's final round.
Dane Huddleston matched Voois' opening 66, then carded a 2-under 68 in Round 2 to sit in fifth place at 6-under. He is three shots ahead of Trey Marrion who followed an even-par 70 with a 3-under 67 in the afternoon. Marrion is tied for 14th.
Max Herendeen accounted for the Illini's fourth score in Round 1 with a 1-under 69, while Freddie Turnell's 67 bolstered the Illini's team tally in Round 2. Turnell is tied for 25th at 139 (-1), while Herendeen is tied for 49th at 142 (+2).
Like Voois, Jake Birdwell, competing as an individual, also posted a career-low score on the day. Following an opening 70, he carded a career-low 65 in Round 2 – with six birdies and one bogey – to climb into a tie for sixth.
Fellow indy Ethan Wilson sits in a tie for 14th after posting rounds of 68 and 69 with just one bogey on the day, while freshman Dujuan Snyman shot 5-over to place 62nd entering Round 3.
Illinois (-24) holds a seven-stroke lead over Eastern Michigan (-17) and a 10-shot edge over UAB (-14). Louisiana Tech and Southern Miss round out the top five of the team standings at 8-under.
Round 3 is set to tee off beginning at 8:30 a.m. CT. Live scoring is available via Clippd Scoreboard.
