HONORS & AWARDS

• Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2025)
• All-Big Ten Championship Team (2025)

FRESHMAN - 2024-25 

• Named to five-man Big Ten All-Freshman Team and All-Big Ten Championship Team (top five finishers and ties)
• Played in 12 stroke play events, including three tournaments in the Illini's scoring lineup
• Ranked sixth on the team with a season stroke average of 73.43
• Made collegiate debut as an individual competitor at OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational (Sept. 20-22) finishing T60 with a three-round total of 10-over 220 (73-73-74)
• Played in the Illinois lineup for the first time at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate (Feb. 13-15) and finished T79 with a score of 12-over 222 (73-73-76)
• Played in the lineup and posted the Illini's top score at the Big Ten Championship (April 25-27), finishing T3 to earn All-Championship Team honors with a score of 3-under 207 (68-68-71)
• Finished first in the 38–player Boilermaker Individual (April 19-20) with a score of 4-under 212 (71-70-71)
• Carded a career-best round of 68 (-4) as an indy competitor en route to a T10 finish at the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational (Oct. 26-27) where he posted a 6-under 210 (68-70-72)
• Also carded back-to-back rounds of 68 (-2) to open the Big Ten Championship, and closed the event with his best 54-hole tournament score of 207 (-3)
• Played in the Illini lineup in the team's win at the NCAA Urbana Regional (May 12-14) shooting an 8-over 221 (73-74-74) to finish T51
• Carded two rounds of 78 (+6) to finish 156th at the NCAA Championship at Omni La Costa (May 23-26)
• Recorded nine rounds at par or better, including three rounds in the 60s

HIGH SCHOOL / JUNIOR

• 2023 Minnesota State High School Championship
• Named 2023 Minnesota High School Golfer of the Year
• Competed at the high school level beginning in seventh grade, earning six varsity letters
• Four-time all-state selection (2021-24)
• Six-time all-conference honoree (2019-24)
• Three-time team MVP at Spring Lake Park (2022-24)
• Four-time academic letter winner and a member of his high school's A Honor Roll
• Advanced to match play at the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur
• 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

PERSONAL

• Full name is Jake Richard Birdwell
• Son of Richard and Mandy Birdwell
• Born Feb. 6, 2006 in Coon Rapids, Minn.
• Grew up in Blaine, Minn. 
• Signed with Illinois on Nov. 8, 2023
• Has an older sister, Jayden, and two younger brothers, Chase and Max
• Hobbies include snowboarding
• Father, Richard, was an NAIA All-American in soccer at Drury University and was inducted into the Panthers’ hall of fame in 2009
• 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."

Career Statistics

Career Results

^ - Competed as an individual and did not count toward team score