Illinois, Duke to Meet in Finals of Callaway Collegiate Match Play Championship

Tournament News

BALL GROUND, Ga. – Fourth-seeded Illinois and 10th seeded Duke both claimed their semifinal matches to advance to the finals of the Callaway Collegiate Match Play Championship at Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, Ga.

Illinois needed late heroics for the second-straight round when Mason Jacobs outlasted Texas Tech’s Will Griffin to give the Illini a 3-2 victory.

“That was why I wanted to come to this tournament - every match is going to be tight,” said Illinois Head Coach Mike Small. “Very seldom is the match a blowout. You’ve seen that in the records over the years. Now this year we had one in our first round, which was nice and we could pile on, but when you play only counting five guys and only 18 holes it’s going to be tight.”

Chris DeForest struck first for Illinois, winning his match 5 and 4. Texas Tech responded by claiming the next two matches with 3 and 2 victories by Nils Floren and Chandler Rusk. The Red Raiders looked to be in good position to win the team match with Griffin holding a two-hole advantage over Jacobs with four holes remaining. Jacobs birdied No. 18 (his 15th hole of the round) - and won No. 3 with par to move the match to all square. Jacobs and Griffin then waited on the No. 3 green to hear the results of the Luke Guthrie-Matt Smith match to see if they would continue to extra holes. After Guthrie’s win pushed Illinois into a 2-2 tie, Jacobs and Griffin moved to the fourth tee. Both players birdied the first playoff hole before Jacobs closed the match with birdie on the par-3 No. 5.

“It was pretty awesome to go birdie-birdie and make those two putts with the team there and everything,” said Jacobs. “It was one of my best golf moments, I know that. To get into the championship too, that was pretty cool.”

Duke continued its hot play by winning the first two matches of its 3-1-1 win against Southern California. Wes Roach was the first Blue Devil to put a point on the board when he downed Steve Lim 4 and 3. Julian Suri followed with a 3 and 2 victory. Jeffrey Kang picked up the Trojans lone victory, 1-up, against Tim Gornik. Duke’s Austin Cody and Sam Smith halved their match. Brinson Paolini closed out the scoring with a 2-up triumph. Duke has run its individual records to 12-2-1 for the tournament.

“I’ve got to give credit to Austin Cody - he actually didn’t lose one,” said Duke Head Coach Jamie Green. “We’re 12-2-1. That all square (in Cody’s match) I think exemplifies how the guys have won their matches. They’re just being determined. There’s a fine line when you get a bad break or the other guy makes a putt on you or whatever, you talk about being patient but you can’t be passive. I think the guys have been assertive and confident and determined and just played great golf.”

In other results, Texas A&M downed UCLA, 3-1-1; Georgia Tech beat East Tennessee State, 3-0-2; Georgia swept Pacific, 5-0; Iowa handled Alabama, 4-1; South Carolina defeated Baylor, 4-1; and Washington State outlasted Texas, 3-2.

Final-round matches will begin Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Callaway Collegiate Match Play Championship
Third Round Results
March 21

Team Results
Championship Bracket
Semifinals
(4) Illinois def. (9) Texas Tech, 3-2
(10) Duke def. (11) Southern California, 3-1-1

Fifth-Place Bracket
(5) Texas A&M def (1) UCLA, 3-1-1
(3) Georgia Tech def. (15) East Tennessee State, 3-0-2

Consolation Bracket
(8) Georgia def. (12) Pacific, 5-0
(6) Iowa def. (2) Alabama, 4-1
(16) South Carolina def. (13) Baylor, 4-1
(14) Washington State def. (7) Texas, 3-2

Individual Match Results

Championship Bracket
(4) Illinois def. (9) Texas Tech, 3-2
Luke Guthrie, Illinois def. Matt Smith, Texas Tech, 3 and 2
Nils Floren, Texas Tech def. Scott Langley, Illinois, 3 and 2
Chris DeForest, Illinois def. Tyler Weworski, Texas Tech, 5 and 4
Chandler Rusk, Texas Tech def. Thomas Pieters, Illinois, 3 and 2
Mason Jacobs, Illinois def. Will Griffin, Texas Tech, 20 holes

(10) Duke def. (11) Southern California, 3-1-1
Brinson Paolini, Duke def. T.J. Vogel, Southern California, 2-up
Wes Roach, Duke def. Steve Lim, Southern California, 4 and 3
Jeffrey Kang, Southern California def. Tim Gornik, Duke, 1-up
Julian Suri, Duke def. Martin Trainer, Southern California, 3 and 2
Austin Cody, Duke halved Sam Smith, Southern California

Fifth-Place Bracket
(5) Texas A&M def (1) UCLA, 3-1-1
Patrick Cantlay, UCLA def. Jordan Russell, Texas A&M, 4 and 3
Conrad Shindler, Texas A&M def. Gregor Main, UCLA, 2-up
Ignacio Elvira, Texas A&M def. Mario Clemens, UCLA, 2 and 1
Cameron Peck, Texas A&M halved Connor Driscoll, UCLA
John Hurley, Texas A&M def. Alex Shi Yup Kim, UCLA, 3 and 2

(3) Georgia Tech def. (15) East Tennessee State, 3-0-2
James White, Georgia Tech def. Paul O’Kane, ETSU, 3 and 1
J.T. Griffin, Georgia Tech halved Spencer Lawson, ETSU
Kyle Scott, Georgia Tech halved Devon Komline, ETSU
Richy Werenski, Georgia Tech def. Patrick Spraggs, ETSU, 5 and 3
Paul Haley, Georgia Tech def. Lucas Armstrong, ETSU, 5 and 3

Consolation Bracket
(8) Georgia def. (12) Pacific, 5-0
Russell Henley, Georgia def. T.J. Bordeaux, Pacific, 3 and 1
Harris English, Georgia def. Alex Johnson, Pacific, 3 and 2
Hudson Swafford, Georgia def. Alex Edfort, Pacific, 5 and 4
T.J. Mitchell, Georgia def. Patrick Kucich, Pacific, 2 and 1
Michael Cromie, Georgia def. Dan Garcia, Pacific, 4 and 2

(6) Iowa def. (2) Alabama, 4-1
Vince India, Iowa def. Bud Cauley, Alabama, 2 and 1
Brad Hopfinger, Iowa def. Cory Whitsett, Alabama, 2 and 1
Hunter Hamrick, Alabama def. Chris Brant, Iowa, 2-up
Barrett Kelpin, Iowa def. Trey Mullinax, Alabama, 3 and 2
Jed Dirksen, Iowa def. Scott Strohmeyer, Alabama, 4 and 2

(16) South Carolina def. (13) Baylor, 4-1
Blaine Woodruff, South Carolina def. Ryan O’Rear, Baylor, 3 and 2
Wesley Bryan, South Carolina def. Payne Gniewek, Baylor, 6 and 4
Jerry Ruiz, Baylor def. Dean Hester, South Carolina, 3 and 2
Logan Harrell, South Carolina def. Cody Paladino, Baylor, 3 and 2
Clint Tolleson, South Carolina def. Matthew Seligmann, Baylor, 3 and 2

(14) Washington State def. (7) Texas, 3-2
Kent Hagen, Washington State def. Dylan Frittelli, Texas, 2 and 1
Cody Gribble, Texas def. Trent Sanders, Washington State, 2 and 1
Bobby Hudson, Texas def. Nick Ellis, Washington State, 4 and 2
Hank Frame, Washington State def. Julio Vegas, Texas, 2 and 1
Branden Dalton, WSU def. Johnathan Schnitzer, UT, 19 holes