‘It was always the plan’ - Inside Illini’s Multi-year Project of Hosting an NCAA Regional at Atkins Golf Club

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 9, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

URBANA, Ill. — The initial application paperwork sent to NCAA offices by the University of Illinois officials never included the date 2025.

When the University of Illinois took ownership of the 300 acres of real estate in June 2020, university officials that included athletics director Josh Whitman, associate athletics director Jackie Szymoniak, Atkins Golf Club general manager Jim Buyze, Atkins Golf superintendent Nate Massey and Illinois men’s golf head coach Mike Small never anticipated getting rewarded an NCAA regional that quickly.

“Yes, the [request for proposal . . .

 

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