Illinois’ Pieters wins national golf title

Illinois sophomore Eric Pieters shot an even-par 71 on Thursday to clinch the individual title in NCAA men’s golf at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palasides, Calif.

By finishing five strokes under par in the 54-hole tournament, Pieters held off Florida’s Tyler McCumber and TCU’s Julien Brun, who tied for second place at two under par.

“My mindset was to make a lot of pars and let other people make mistakes,” Pieters said in a statement released by Illinois. “Coach always tells me that if you play a steady round of golf, you won’t have a lot of people finishing in front of you.”

Pieters played his round with McCumber and said he was scoreboard watching throughout the round.

“I like to know where I’m at, so I checked the scoreboards every couple holes,” Pieters said. “I knew if I parred my way in, I’d be fine, and that’s what happened.”

With the win Pieters, a native of Belgium, also received first-team all-American honors. He became Illinois’ second national champion in three years, joining 2010 champion Scott Langley.

Illinois is now the second program to produce two national champions in a three-year window and the first since Arizona State did it in 1992 and 1993. Illini head coach Mike Small said this victory was a step in the right direction for the program.

“Hopefully people think of Illinois golf and excellence and having a chance to win a national championship,” Small said.

In the team competition, the Illini did not make the eight-team final round, finishing 21st and shooting a collective 35 over par. The eight final teams, led by Alabama, will compete in match play this weekend to determine a champion.

Four Illini will continue their season at the professional level as they attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open. On Monday, coach Small and Pieters will play a sectional qualifier in Chicago, while freshman Brian Campbell will play in one in California. Senior Luke Guthrie will try to qualify June 4 in Memphis, Tenn.