Illinois, Yaun Win Inaugural Folds of Honor Collegiate
Final Results via Golfstat can be found HERE
GRAND HAVEN, Mich. - Illinois took the team lead in Round 2 and never looked back in the 2022 Folds of Honor Collegiate, winning by 15 strokes on Wednesday at American Dunes Golf Club. The Fighting Illini fired 11 birdies on the front nine to help keep top-three finishers Arizona and Florida State at distance.
“When you have a lead like that, you want to come out and expand on it on the first nine holes,” Illinois head coach Mike Small said. “We did that and are off on the right foot to start the season.”
Small and his program echoed throughout the week what this tournament represents.
“When you have an event that you think and believe will be around for a long time with a lot of heritage, you want to be the first winner,” he said. “We talked about that this week and that was a goal of ours.”
Sophomore Jackson Buchanan was outside of the top 10 entering the final round but compiled five birdies and an eagle on the 594-yard 13th hole to finish T3 with his teammate Adrien Dumont de Chassart.
Liberty’s Jonathan Yaun defeated NC State’s Maximilian Steinlechner on the second playoff hole to win medalist honors. The Minneola, Fla., native chipped in from the back fringe of the 10th green to grab the title, the second win of his career.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for a win, and through all of the ups and downs I’ve had in my game, for it to happen at a place like this and in these types of conditions makes it probably the biggest win of my career so far,” he said. “To know that I can play in a playoff and compete against the best players in the world means everything.”
It was the birdie putt on the 8th hole, his 17th of the day, and a par putt on 9 that Yaun knew he had a chance at victory.
“It was very special to make that par putt,” he said about his final putt in regulation. “I knew it would be close, but I stayed patient even through the trophy ceremony and played for God and Country.”
Arizona’s Chase Sienkiewicz eagled the 519-yard 2nd hole and birdied five of his final 13 holes to card a five-under final round and finish T8. The 2022 Second Team All-PAC-12 member’s 67 is a course record.
About Folds of Honor
Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of military members who have fallen or been disabled while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Beginning in 2022, it expanded its mission to include first responders. Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. Funds for a second bachelor’s degree or trade/technical program certification are also available. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded about 44,000 scholarships totaling about $200 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 41 percent are minorities. It is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on GuideStar. It was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot (with three combat tours in Iraq) and PGA Professional. He is currently stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service Detachment 1, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship visit foldsofhonor.org.
About American Dunes Golf Club
In 2006, the Grand Haven Golf Club hosted a small golf tournament that would inspire the formation of Folds of Honor. The Grand Haven Golf Club closed in 2018 and a small group of patriots joined together with Jack Nicklaus to create American Dunes. The mission of American Dunes is unwavering. We are honored to raise awareness and funds for the families of our fallen and disabled veterans. Jack Nicklaus led the project by donating his $3,000,000 design fee, a group of 18 individuals sponsored a hole and five private investors joined together to preserve the birthplace of Folds of Honor. The grand opening of American Dunes Golf Club took place on May 2, 2021.