ROSEMONT, Ill – Fighting Illini junior golfer Nick Hardy was recognized by the Big Ten Conference on Wednesday as Co-Big Ten Golfer of the Week. The honor is the second for Hardy this season and the third for an Illinois golfer. Hardy is coming off of a top-10 performance at the Louisiana Classics, highlighted by a career-low 66 in the opening round.

A native of Northbrook, Illinois, Hardy shot 3-under par to finish in eighth overall at the 32nd Annual Louisiana Classics this week. The finish marked Hardy's first top-10 finish of the spring and his fifth of the season. The Illini shot 9-over par as a team, closing the tournament in fourth overall. The weekly conference honor is the third of his career.

The Orange and Blue continue the spring season March 6-8 at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters. Held at Southern Highlands Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Southern Highlands Collegiate annually welcomes one of the top-ranked tournament fields in the nation.

2016-17 Big Ten Men's Golfers of the Week

Spring 2017

Feb. 15:                 Everton Hawkins, Fr., NU

Feb. 22:                 Ryan Lumsden, So., NU

                              Timmy Hildebrand, So., PUR

March 1:               Nick Hardy, Jr., ILL

                              Kyle Mueller, Jr., MICH

Fall 2016

Sept. 14:               Nick Hardy, Jr., ILL

Sept. 21:               Nick Carlson, So., MICH

Sept. 28:               Kyle Mueller, Jr., MICH

                              Will Grimmer, So., OSU

Oct. 5:                   Ryan Lumsden, So., NU

Oct. 12:                 Giovanni Tadiotto, Fr., ILL

Oct. 19:                 Ian Kim, Jr., MICH

                              Charles Huntzinger, So., PSU

Oct. 26:                 Kaleb Johnson, Fr., MSU

Nov. 3:                   Sam Triplett, Jr., NU

Nov. 10:                 Thomas Longbella, Fr., MINN