Fighting Illini Men’s Golf Announces 2026-27 Schedule
August 6, 2026 | Men's Golf
NEWS
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Illinois men's golf head coach Mike Small announced the program's 2026-27 schedule on Thursday, setting the stage for another highly anticipated and competitive season for the Fighting Illini.
The 2026-27 slate features a mix of familiar tournaments alongside several new challenges, plus the return of the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate to close out the regular season in late April.
"Each year we strive to put together a schedule that really challenges the team - both mentally and physically - as we grow and prepare for the postseason, and I'm very excited about this year's tournament lineup," Small said. "We will consistently compete on top-rated courses against the best teams in college golf, including hosting the 20th playing of our own premier event at Olympia Fields. I'm also very excited to once again host the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate at Atkins Golf Club. This schedule will give us every opportunity to reach our team goals, and I can't wait to get back on the course with this team."
SEPTEMBER
The season opens Sept. 12-13 when the Fighting Illini return to the Sahalee Players Championship, hosted by Big Ten foe Washington at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington. Illinois previously opened the 2023-24 season at Sahalee, when senior Max Herendeen, then a freshman, tied for medalist honors in his collegiate debut.
Following play in the Pacific Northwest, Illinois once again hosts one of the season's most prestigious collegiate events at famed Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Illinois. The Fighting Illini will welcome 14 peers for the 20th annual OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational, Sept. 18-20. This year the event will be contested on OFCC's South Course. The tournament is recognized annually for offering a demanding but fair early-season test that attracts one of the best fields in collegiate golf.
OCTOBER
Illinois closes out the fall with a pair of October tournaments.
First, the Orange and Blue travel to Notre Dame, Indiana, where they will compete in the Fighting Irish Classic, hosted by Notre Dame at Warren Golf Course, Oct. 4-5. It marks the Illini's first time in the field at the Fighting Irish Classic since claiming the team title in 2018.
The Illini then travel south to the Gulf Coast to tee off in the Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational, co-hosted by Southern Miss and Ole Miss at Fallen Oak at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino's Fallen Oak Course in Saucier, Mississippi, Oct. 17-19. Illinois will compete in the event for the third consecutive season after posting a runner-up finish behind medalist Jackson Buchanan in 2024 and placing third in 2025 led by a runner-up finish from Herendeen.
FEBRUARY
The spring schedule begins when the Illini return to the Gulf Coast to defend their team title at the Hal Williams Collegiate at RTJ Magnolia Grove's Crossings Course in Mobile, Alabama. It marks the ninth time that Illinois will tee off in the event, formerly known as the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate. Illinois won the event in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2026. Last year, former Illini Ryan Voois also captured medalist honors.
February extends into March for the Illini in their sixth straight appearance at the Las Vegas Collegiate – previously the Southern Highlands Collegiate – Feb. 28-March 2. This year, UNLV will host the event at TPC Summerlin. The event annually draws a strong field of championship-caliber programs to test themselves on a challenging desert track. The Illini won the event in 2023 and posted a third-place team finish last spring.
MARCH
March brings a new challenge to the Illini schedule when the Orange and Blue travel to Ivins, Utah, to compete in the Black Desert Collegiate. The event is co-hosted by Utah and Utah Tech, March 15-17, at Black Desert Golf Course.
APRIL
April begins in familiar territory, as the Illini return to Augusta, Georgia, to compete in the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational for the 16th consecutive season. The event is hosted by Augusta University at Forest Hills Golf Club – just miles from Augusta National Golf Club – and takes place April 3-4, concluding on the eve of Masters week.
Following play in Augusta, the Orange and Blue face another new test at the Lewis Chitengwa Memorial, April 12-13. Virginia hosts the sixth annual event at Birdwood Golf Course at Boar's Head Resort in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The Illini close out the regular season, returning home to Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois for the third playing of the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate, April 24-25. The event returns to the Illini's home course for the first time since the Orange and Blue claimed team victories in 2023 and 2024.
POSTSEASON
The Fighting Illini's 2027 postseason run begins April 30-May 2 at the Big Ten Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J. Illinois is in search of its 14th Big Ten title since 2009.
NCAA Regionals are slated for May 17-19, and will be held at six sites around the country: The Gallery Golf Club (Marana, Arizona); Karsten Creek Golf Club (Stillwater, Oklahoma); The Pfau Course (Bloomington, Indiana); The Rawls Course (Lubbock, Texas); TPC Myrtle Beach (Murrells Inlet, South Carolina); and Tennessee National (Loudon, Tennessee).
The NCAA National Championship is set to return for Year 4 at the North Course at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, May 28 – June 2. Illinois will enter the 2027 postseason in search of the program's 17th NCAA Championship berth in 19 years dating back to 2008.
Tournament dates and times are subject to change. Stay tuned to FightingIllini.com for the latest on Illinois men's golf.
