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Illinois proved why it should be ranked No. 1 with a 19-shot victory Tuesday at the Crooked Stick Intercollegiate.
The Illini, who top the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, carded a final-round, 2-over 290 to finish at 2-over 866, well ahead of second-place Purdue (21 over) and third-place Duke (30 over). Especially impressive was Illinois' second-round 279, which gave them a nine-shot cushion entering the final day.
Senior Charlie Danielson, ranked 20th by Golfweek, took medalist honors at 4-under 212, three shots better than Kentucky's Tyler McDaniel.