May 5, 2009

Park Ridge, Ill. -

Complete Team in PDF Format

Illinois' Mike Small has been named Big Ten Men's Golf Coach of the Year. Small guided the Fighting Illini to their first Big Ten title in 21 years over the weekend and to seven tournament titles on the season. In addition sophomores Scott Langley and Chris DeForest each garnered First Team All-Big Ten accolades.

Small wins conference Coach of the Year for the second time in his career, having also garnered the honor in 2002, his second season with Illinois.

Illinois qualified for the NCAA Regionals for the fifth time in Small's nine seasons, having advanced to the NCAA Championship three of the previous four times it reached the post-season. The Illini finished 18th in the NCAA in 2002, 21st in 2003 and 17th last season.

The conference title for Illinois came after four top three-finishes in the past seven seasons, second in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and third in 2008.

Illinois' seven tournament titles are the most in NCAA Division I this season. The Fighting Illini won three titles in the fall, including the prestigious Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational, and have claimed titles in their last four tournaments this spring. In addition, junior Zach Barlow and Langley each have two individual championships to their credit this year.

Langley has finished in the top 12 in eight of 10 tournaments this year, including titles at the D.A. Weibring Invitational and the FAU Spring Invitational. He also placed fourth at Olympia Fields. Langley has three titles to his credit in his young career, having also won the Argonaut Invitational in 2008. As a freshman, he nearly made the cut for the final round of the NCAA Championship.

Langley leads Illinois with a 72.00 scoring average this season with 12 rounds under par and four at even par. His round of 64 at the D.A Weibring Invitational is a career best. Langley was named Big Ten Golfer of the Week on March 4, after having helped Illinois win the Tinervin Cup and April 1 after winning the Spring Break Invite.

DeForest has been the top player for Illinois during the spring, having posted top-four finishes in four straight tournaments. His 72.19 scoring average leads the team during the spring.

The sophomore posted rounds of 70, 69 and 71 at the Big Ten Championship to tie for third individually. DeForest tied for fourth at both the FAU Spring Break Invitational and the Marshall Invitational followed by a third-place showing at the Boilermaker Invitational. He also was third at the Windon Memorial in the fall.

The sophomore has nine rounds under par and four rounds of even par this season, including a 64 at the Windon Memorial. He has four rounds in the 60s in the past four tournaments.

DeForest placed in the top ten at Big Tens for the second straight, having placed 10th a year ago.

Illinois travels to Galloway, N.J. for the NCAA Regional May 14-16. The Illini are the third seed in the 14-team Regional. The top five finishers will advance to the NCAA Championship May 26-30 in Toledo, Ohio.