About two months ago, Josele Ballester was a three-time All-American who was teeing it in the U.S. Amateur and entering his final collegiate season without a collegiate win in his solid career.
Fast forward to now, and the U.S. Amateur champion checked another box with his first collegiate win in strong fashion.
Ballester not only won the 18th annual Olympia Fields Illini Invitational, he matched the tournament record with a 10-under 200 (64-66-70). Ballester's finishing group had to finish the round Sunday morning when the three-day tournament adjusted to a 36-hold day on Saturday due to weather concerns.