The trophy case at Demirjian Golf Practice Facility is stuffed. But Mike Small will find room for the big prize if the Illini bring it back from Oregon next week.
Right now, Illinois has second- and third-place NCAA trophies. And a bunch from the Big Ten.
“To win the final one, that’s been our goal every year,” the Illinois golf coach said as the team prepared to leave Monday for the NCAA finals. “We haven’t won it yet. There are a lot of great players and a lot of great teams, and it is hard.”
Small grew up in the area.