BHS golfer Burge picks Illinois

Bloomington High School star Alex Burge has made an oral commitment to play golf at the University of Illinois.

Burge, a junior, chose the Illini after meeting with Illinois coach Mike Small on Friday. He had narrowed his choices to Illinois, Auburn, Vanderbilt and North Carolina.

“I like how it’s kind of close to home, and Coach Small is a great coach,” Burge said. “This summer he’ll be playing in eight PGA Tour events, so he knows what it takes to get to the next level.

“There are a lot of resources there that caught my eye. I just feel really comfortable over there.”

Burge placed third in the Class 2A State Tournament this past fall, finishing two strokes back of medalist Logan Stauffer of University High. It was the second straight year in the top three for Burge, who took second in 2008.

He also has been medalist in the Big 12 Conference Tournament the past two years.

Small cannot comment until Burge signs a national letter of intent in November.