Skip To Main Content

University of Illinois Athletics

2025-26 Men's Golf Roster

Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini

Joseph Buttress

  • Class Sophomore
  • Height 6-0
  • Major Recreation, Sport & Tourism
  • Hometown Perth, Australia
  • High School Australian Christian College
  • Instagram joseph.buttress

Biography

FRESHMAN - 2024-25

  • Competed in nine rounds over three events an individual competitor
  • Made collegiate debut Sept. 20-22 at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational at Olympia Fields Country Club, finishing 75th with a three-round total of 20-over 230 (76-82-72), his lowest 54-hole tournament score of the year
  • Shot 71 (+1) in Round 3 at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate, a season-low for a single round
  • Seventh on the team with a stroke average of 79.22. 

HIGH SCHOOL/JUNIOR

  • A top junior golfer in Australia where he was honored as a two-time Player of the Year in Western Australia (WA) by GolfWA
  • 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 
  • Two-time runner-up at both the School Sport Australia National Championship and the Australian Junior Amateur
  • Advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur
  • Ranked No. 1 in the 2022 Australian Boys' Order of Merit in October 2022 
  • Named to the GolfWA Junior State Team three times
  • Earned two nods on the All-Australia Schoolboys Team
  • Selected as a member of the GolfWA Men's State Team
  • 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

PERSONAL

  • Born Sept. 5, 2005 in Leeds, England
  • Grew up on Perth, Australia
  • Signed with Illinois on Nov. 8, 2023
  • Also recruited by Oklahoma State, Pepperdine, North Carolina, and UCLA
  • Chose Illinois "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."

Career Statistics

Year Rounds Strokes Average Low Round Low 54-Hole Score
2024-25 (Freshman) 9 713 79.22 71 (+1) 230 (+20)
Total 9 713 79.22 71 (+1) 230 (+20)

Career Results

2024-25 (Freshman) Tournament Score Finish
Sept. 20-22 OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational ^ 76-82-72 = 230 (+20) 75
Sept. 29-30 Windon Memorial Classic ^ 82-80-84 = 246 (+33) 88
Feb. 13-15 John A. Burns Intercollegiate ^ 79-87-71 = 237 (+27) 101

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

Historical Player Information

  • 2024-25Freshman

    6'0"
  • 2025-26Sophomore

    6'0"