Sangamon Sun

The Illinois College men's golf team participated in the 2024 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) and saw two of its student-athletes earn all-conference honors. Among the field of 65 competitors, the top-18 received First and Second All-SLIAC honors.

Jarrett James of Illinois College broke two records on the final day, leading to a tie for second place overall and earning him a First-Team All-SLIAC selection for the second time in his career with the Blueboys. James started the three-day tournament with a six-over-par score of 77, which included 10 pars, four bogeys, two double-bogeys, and two birdies.

On the second day, James improved significantly with a two-under round score of 69. He began with back-to-back pars before achieving an eagle on the par-5 third hole. His performance included 15 pars, one eagle, one birdie, and one bogey, placing him in a tie for sixth place overall.

James's record-breaking performance on the final day set new individual school records at Illinois College: the lowest individual 18-hole round score of 66 and the lowest 54-hole individual tournament score of 212.

Cole Bartels also had an impressive tournament, finishing tied for tenth overall with a score of 217 through rounds of 79, 70, and 68. This earned him a Second-Team All-SLIAC selection. Bartels opened with a front nine score of 42 followed by a one-over back nine for a total round score of 79.

On day two, Bartels moved up twelve spots in rankings with a solid one-under round of 70. His play featured an even-par front nine and back-to-back birdies on holes eleven and twelve on the back nine.

Bartels secured his Second-Team All-SLIAC selection with an excellent final round at three-under par for a score of 68. Starting on hole six, he recorded four consecutive pars along with birdies on his first nine holes.

This marks four consecutive seasons where Illinois College has had student-athletes receive an All-SLIAC selection.