Dyland Meyer
(Illinois Athletics Photo)
OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL (September 17, 2016) -- With
an even-par second day at the Fighting Illini
Invitational No. 3 Illinois was able to extend their
advantage atop the leaderboard. The tournament
hosts will begin the final round at Olympia Fields
Country Club 6-under and 21-strokes in front of
second place Texas A&M who is 15-over. Illinois is
already looking for their second tournament victory
of the young season.
Junior Dylan Meyer is leading the Illini charge
and his two-day 4-under tally his him tied for first
place. After shooting a 1-under 69 on Friday the
2016 Western Amateur winning put together a 3-
under 67 in the second round. Meyer got his round
off to a good start with a birdie on the opening hole,
his first of five throughout the day versus just two
bogeys. Besides his birdie on the 1st, Meyers also
carded circles on Nos. 11, 12, 15 and 17.
First round co-leader, freshman Bryan
Baumgarten fell back a couple of strokes with a 2-
over 72 and he is in third place at 3-under. Junior
Nick Hardy continued to be solid and he will begin
the final round 1-under (68-71). Hardy is tied for
fourth.
Meyer will begin the last day tied in the
medalist race with Texas A&M junior Cameron
Champ, who began the day tied for first. Champ
dropped a stroke in the second round with a 1-over
71. His round got off to a strong start with a birdie
on the 2nd hole but the rest of his day was filled
with pars and two bogeys.
A total of seven players will begin the final
round within five shots of the individual lead.
Team Standings Top Five:
1. No. 3 Illinois (-6)
2. Texas A&M (+15)
3. No. 4 Oklahoma State (+17)
4. North Carolina (+19)
5. No. 18 Florida State (+20)
ROUND ONE RECAP
With a
win already this year at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate
No. 3 Illinois has jumped out to a six-stroke lead
over a talented field at the Fighting Illini Invitational
Golf Tournament. The field at Olympia Fields Country
Club includes seven of the top-25 teams in the
Preseason Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll.
The 6-under Illini are being paced by freshman
Bryan Baumgarten who is tied for first in the
medalist race. On Friday Baumgarten put together
an impressive 5-under 65. Beginning on No. 1
Baumgarten birdied the opening hole before falling
back to even-par with a bogey on the second. From
there it was flawless golf for the 2016 U.S. Mid-
Amateur finalist.
Five additional birdies followed with one coming
on the 5th and then four on the back nine, including
one on No. 18. Baumgarten posted a 3-under 31 on
the inward nine.
Two more Illinois players are in the top-10 after
the first round. Junior Nick Hardy is tied for fourth
after a 2-under 70. Hardy, last weeks Big 10 Golfer
of the Week after medaling at the Wolf Run
Intercollegiate, birdied four and bogeyed two during
his round.
One shot behind in a tie for seventh is classmate
Dylan Meyer. In the opening round Meyer tallied a 1-
under 70 with five birdies, two bogeys and a double-
bogey. Meyer is coming off a successful summer that
saw him win the Western Amateur and also advance
to the U.S. Amateur quarterfinals.
Sharing the 5-under medalist lead with
Baumgarten is Texas A&M junior Cameron Champ.
Starting his round on No. 10 Champ parred his first
four holes and then caught fire with three birdies in
a
row and four in five holes to turn in 4-under. Champ
bogeyed his only hole of the day on the 7th and then
finished birdie-birdie.
Arizona State's Ki Taek Lee is 3-under and in
third while Alabama's Davis Riley is tied with Hardy
for fourth at 2-under.
ABOUT THE
Fighting Illini Invitational
54-hole elite collegiate event hosted at Olympia
Fields
Country Club by the University of Illinois. Olympia
Fields has hosted the 2015 U.S. Amateur. two U.S.
Opens, two PGA Championships, five Western Opens
and a U.S. Senior Open.
View Complete Tournament Information