Illinois Golf 2023-24

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#951      
Illini_golf-fan
I know today was frustrating but we've been spoiled these past 15 years. This whole year has been inconsistent as the lineup changed a lot from tournament to tournament. After the struggle in the Big10 tournament my hopes/expectations changed for this group. With the changing lineup, I would say they did pretty well this year. Jackson will comeback stronger as his game was off this week. Next years team will be really good. A lot of talented freshmen and probably as talented as Nick Hardy's class. Small will probably if i was to guess add a stronger portal guy as these 2 portal guys this year weren't strong enough.

I'm a huge match play fan. I just don't think we play aggressive enough. Watching these other teams, they fire at pins and we don't as frequently. We are a great stroke play team cause we are more conservative and don't make big numbers but match play we need to play more aggressive as we are playing the individual not the course.
 
#954      
Konnie
Florida State beat Georgia Tech 3 -2. The second semifinal is still underway with Auburn leading OSU 3 -2
 
#955      
2X2L
Konnie said:
Florida State beat Georgia Tech 3 -2. The second semifinal is still underway with Auburn leading OSU 3 -2
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I may go absolutely ape if The OSU wins. Shows you what a fluke match play is. But Buckeyes did well in stroke play.

As an aside, may I say Illinois was elite eight in basketball and golf this year? Cool.
 
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#958      
WeWillWhen
Auburn needs 3 OT holes to finally dispatch tOSU. Auburn v. FSU in the final tomorrow.
 
#960      
2X2L
2X2L said:
Congrats to Georgia Tech.

No sour grapes.

But if 72 holes of superb stroke play golf are not enough to declare a national champion ...

Screw match play - goofy golf, I think. Something I played with a great friend (RIP) for grins and beers! (I was one up on 18th hole; he was putting to tie; it was getting very dark as he lined up his putt; I tended the flag; cheated, moved flag a foot away from cup; he didn't notice; he missed. Admitted I cheated; we laughed; all in fun. We repaired to lounge. He won, one up at last call.) So much fun.

Thank you Fighting Illini! Champs, as far as I'm concerned.
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I miss Jim D and our funky golf. God bless you, Jim. By the way, I was the real loser;: I had to leave the tip. Money well spent.
 
#961      
hoopsfan47
illiniE said:
Oklahoma State is the only #1 seed to win the match play. Shows how random match play can be. Or how stupid a format.
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IMHO, you can take the NCAA format and let Mike Holder eat it to his heart's content. (A contemporary of mine back in the day, he was the instigator of the match play for the team title.) The Illini won the stroke play by a comfortable 16 strokes, a dominant performance in the final two rounds to run away. The champions will be known as NCAA Team Champions forever, just like they have for more than a century. But golf is a game where every stroke counts, and IMHO champions should be determined in a format where every stroke counts. This Illini team should consider themselves as worthy as any of the respect of a championship team.

I actually played in three NCAA tournaments, all conducted at stroke play for the individual and team titles. There were 288 players in the field each time. IMHO, it was more difficult to win a title, especially the individual title, than it is today. Match play for the team title has made it more of a coin flip...not to my liking in any way.
 
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#962      
HensonHall71
SprintingShellyClark said:
Great season! Match play is dumb.
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Yeah- what is the point of playing 4 rounds of golf- and then throw all that out and have to play another 3 rounds to coin flip a winner out of 8 teams

At the very minimum keeping match play to 4 teams at least rewards teams that played the best over 4 rounds a little more - you give them a 1 in 4 chance of winning it rather than 1 in 8
 
#963      
2X2L
Get rid of match play all together. All together: " Get rid of match play!.

I''m still in "Airplane!" mode.

Yours truly, Rex Kramer.
 
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#964      
2X2L
HensonHall71 said:
Yeah- what is the point of playing 4 rounds of golf- and then throw all that out and have to play another 3 rounds to coin flip a winner out of 8 teams

At the very minimum keeping match play to 4 teams at least rewards teams that played the best over 4 rounds a little more - you give them a 1 in 4 chance of winning it rather than 1 in
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Silly, irrational. NCAA. Typical.
 
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#965      
DRS
I love match, hate that we lost. I am a good golfer not great, 5 handicap for like the last decade, and I grind and grind and can't seem to find a way lower. Getting older, turning 50 this summer, and I am tired of the grind for a lower score. I just want somebody that is the same handicap to join with and we just play match from here on out.

My team plays match about 4 times a year and it such a mind F%$& to just let go of the score. They always say things like will if it was stroke I would've beat them by such and such. Well it is not. it is the ultimate wash away the bad hole and play the man next to you. With stroke you are playing old man par and he eventually always wins.
 
#967      
Illinoise
Match play brings the drama and suspense that the NCAA wants for TV etc. The “best team” doesn’t always win. That’s part of sports and the beauty of it. What this team accomplished at regionals and nationals was incredibly impressive. It didn’t result in a trophy but bodes well for the next few years.

I would be in favor of a cut to 7 teams for match play. Reward the stroke play winner with a bye to the semifinals and a morning off. Seems like a good compromise. Winning the stroke play should earn something more it would seem.
 
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#968      
danielb927
Illinoise said:
Match play brings the drama and suspense that the NCAA wants for TV etc. The “best team” doesn’t always win. That’s part of sports and the beauty of it. What this team accomplished at regionals and nationals was incredibly impressive. It didn’t result in a trophy but bodes well for the next few years.

I would be in favor of a cut to 7 teams for match play. Reward the stroke play winner with a bye to the semifinals and a morning off. Seems like a good compromise. Winning the stroke play should earn something more it would seem.
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That's a fantastic idea, would love to see that.
 
#969      
HensonHall71
Illinoise said:
Match play brings the drama and suspense that the NCAA wants for TV etc. The “best team” doesn’t always win. That’s part of sports and the beauty of it. What this team accomplished at regionals and nationals was incredibly impressive. It didn’t result in a trophy but bodes well for the next few years.

I would be in favor of a cut to 7 teams for match play. Reward the stroke play winner with a bye to the semifinals and a morning off. Seems like a good compromise. Winning the stroke play should earn something more it would seem.
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I like the idea of giving a bye to the stroke play winner - but I still don't get the concept of playing 4 rounds then having to play three more rounds of match play to determine a winner- Revenue for mens golf is tiny - so it's really not about creating more tv revenue - I think there are many formats that would create drama that would be a better determinant of who the best team was that year. You can go full ryder cup and have the top 4 teams square off with 2 matches of four ball in the morning and foursomes in the afternoon and one match play - then the two winners compete the next day - that would bring a lot more teamwork and drama and is a proven format for team golf
 
#970      
skyIdub
Illinoise said:
.... Winning the stroke play should earn something more it would seem.
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Winning stroke play by 16 strokes should earn you a National Championship. Period. Best team....undeniable. Match play is fun.....it should not determine the NC in one morning....after your team obliterated the field over 4 days.

Congrats Mike and Illini Golf. As far as I'm concerned, you are the National Champions.
 
#971      
Illini2010-11
HensonHall71 said:
I like the idea of giving a bye to the stroke play winner - but I still don't get the concept of playing 4 rounds then having to play three more rounds of match play to determine a winner- Revenue for mens golf is tiny - so it's really not about creating more tv revenue - I think there are many formats that would create drama that would be a better determinant of who the best team was that year. You can go full ryder cup and have the top 4 teams square off with 2 matches of four ball in the morning and foursomes in the afternoon and one match play - then the two winners compete the next day - that would bring a lot more teamwork and drama and is a proven format for team golf
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It seems like a very strange format for television and in general: Playing 4 rounds Friday-Monday, and then having match play Tuesday-Wednesday. Best chance for eyeballs on television would be to finish tournament on Memorial Day. In my opinion, four rounds of golf easily differentiates the top 4 teams from the pack. I would propose having the four rounds play Thursday-Sunday, and then have semifinals and finals match play on Memorial Day Monday (meaning only 4 teams in match play). This would actually give the teams that played best over 4 days a better opportunity to win the title.

The fact that there was a 31 stroke spread from Illinois (1 seed) and Georgia Tech (8 seed) is insane.
 
#972      
2X2L
Forward Ho!

I hope Coach Small takes a break but plays in Stricker's Am-Fam. Illini players: enter every tournament you can. Get more better! (I got a C-minus in English class but somehow graduated from high school).
 
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#973      
SuperintendentChalmers
Illini2010-11 said:
It seems like a very strange format for television and in general: Playing 4 rounds Friday-Monday, and then having match play Tuesday-Wednesday. Best chance for eyeballs on television would be to finish tournament on Memorial Day. In my opinion, four rounds of golf easily differentiates the top 4 teams from the pack. I would propose having the four rounds play Thursday-Sunday, and then have semifinals and finals match play on Memorial Day Monday (meaning only 4 teams in match play). This would actually give the teams that played best over 4 days a better opportunity to win the title.

The fact that there was a 31 stroke spread from Illinois (1 seed) and Georgia Tech (8 seed) is insane.
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I think the NCAA does not want to have multiple championships on a single day and the men's lacrosse final, which draws better (in person, and I assume on TV) is on Memorial Day.
 
#974      
SnakePlissken
Illinoise said:
Match play brings the drama and suspense that the NCAA wants for TV etc. The “best team” doesn’t always win. That’s part of sports and the beauty of it. What this team accomplished at regionals and nationals was incredibly impressive. It didn’t result in a trophy but bodes well for the next few years.

I would be in favor of a cut to 7 teams for match play. Reward the stroke play winner with a bye to the semifinals and a morning off. Seems like a good compromise. Winning the stroke play should earn something more it would seem.
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I agree with this 100%. There are quirks with any format. If we had just won one of these match play tournaments everyone would be much more on board with the concept.

The other nice part of your "cut to 7" idea is the stroke play winner is then guaranteed a spot at East Lake. It really stinks we missed out on that for next year.
 
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