Illinois claims first Big Ten Match Play title

Illinois' Thomas Pieters

Illinois' Thomas Pieters

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Illinois won its first Big Ten Match Play Championship on Saturday at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla. The Illini went undefeated in the semifinals and championship match to win the title.

After advancing out of Friday’s quarterfinals with a 4-0-1 victory over Michigan, Illinois defeated Ohio State on Saturday morning, 5-0-0. Illinois met Michigan State in the championship match after the Spartans beat Iowa, 3-2-0, in the semifinals.

Illinois became the Match Play champion by going undefeated against Michigan State. In the most lopsided individual match, Illinois’ Thomas Pieters defeated Michigan States Matthew Moseley, 8 and 7. No match made it to the 17th hole.

Iowa defeated Ohio State, 3-1-1, in the third-place match, and Northwestern defeated Indiana, 2-2-1, in the fifth-place match. Michigan took seventh place with a 3-1-1 defeat of Purdue.

• • •

ROUND 1

Michigan def. Minnesota, 3-2-0

Ohio State def. Wisconsin, 3-1-1

Michigan State def. Penn State, 4-1-0

Purdue def. Nebraska, 3-2-0

QUARTERFINALS

Illinois def. Michigan, 4-0-1

Ohio State def. Indiana, 2-1-2

Michigan State def. Northwestern, 4-1-0

Iowa def. Purdue, 4-1-0

SEMIFINALS

Illinois def. Ohio State, 5-0-0

Michigan State def. Iowa, 3-2-0

FINAL

Illinois def. Michigan State, 5-0-0