Indiana men’s golf finished last out of 15 teams at this weekend’s Fighting Illini Invitational at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Illinois, shooting 39-over-par for three rounds.
The field of 15 included five top-10 programs, and 12 total teams ranked in the top 50 of last season’s final Clippd Scoreboard rankings. Indiana was ranked 72 at the conclusion of last season.
Indiana’s redshirt senior Clay Merchent, junior Cole Starnes, junior Nick Piesen, junior Alec Cesare and sophomore Bradley Chill Jr. competed.
The Hoosiers ended the first day of the invitational with a 13-over-par 293, good enough for 14th place and just two strokes ahead of Baylor University. Indiana’s Friday round put them 14 strokes behind Texas Tech University, who ended day one at the top of the leaderboard. Merchent led the way for the Hoosiers on the first day, shooting only 1 over par, which included a birdie at the 14th hole.
The second day was a similar story. Indiana concluded Saturday’s round with an 11-over-par 291 and dug itself firmly into last place. The Hoosiers’ score of 29 over par after two days banished them 40 strokes behind the University of Florida, who took a commanding lead into day three. Indiana’s top performer for the second day was Starnes, who finished with Indiana’s only sub-par score of the weekend, as he left the course Saturday with a score of 1 under par.
The Hoosiers had their worst day Sunday, tallying a 15-over-par 295, and left Illinois as last place finishers.
Piesen ended the invitational as Indiana’s top finisher. He finished his round three at even par, and shooting 6 over par for the weekend, which placed him 39th individually. Florida was unable to maintain its lead, and would go 7 over par on the third day, allowing Oklahoma State University to win the Fighting Illini Invitational, despite not leading after the first or second rounds. Indiana finished 45 strokes behind first place, with Oklahoma State ending its weekend at 6 under par.
Indiana will attempt to redeem itself at The Indy at Forest Hills on Sept. 26 in Richmond, Indiana.
