Illinois golfer James Lepp, the Big Ten''s Player of the Year in 2003, is leaving the team and transferring to Washington.

"He caught everybody at the university by surprise, including the coach," Illinois coach Mike Small said.

Small said Lepp first talked about leaving Illinois two weeks after the NCAA championships, where the Illini finished 21st. Washington was 11th.

None of Lepp''s teammates were aware of his plans at the time, Small said.

"They were shocked beyond belief," Small said.

Small said Lepp didn''t give him a reason why he is transferring. A native of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Lepp will be much closer to home in Seattle. Small said Washington was Lepp''s dream school growing up, but the Huskies didn''t recruit him as a prep player.

Because of the lateness of Lepp''s departure, Small won''t be able to fill Lepp''s scholarship until the ''04-05 school year.

"It hurts on the field in the short term," Small said. "We''ll be fine in the long run."

Lepp set a school record with a 71.41 stroke average, breaking the mark held by Steve Stricker. Lepp and Stricker are the only Illini in history to earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors.

Besides Lepp, the Illini also lose senior Geoff Lound. Freshman Patrick Nagle, who earned third-team All-America honors, returns.