The fifth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan men’s golf team travels to Indianapolis on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, to compete in the Wabash College Fall Invitational. The invitational hosts 12 teams at Broadmoor Country Club for the two-day event. The Titans aim for another top-three finish after placing second at the NCAA Division III Preview on Sept. 7 and first at the Heartland Invite on Sept. 9.
“The guys have put in a lot of effort and dedication to get their games in top form. We are continuing to get better every week,” head golf coach Jim Ott said. “All of our top five guys have been our lowest scorers for a round, and all have shot rounds under par this season, a testament to our consistency and overall talent.”
Despite two College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) rivals, Millikin and North Central, also participating, Coach Ott and the Titans are not concerned.
“We play against the golf course, so it really does not matter what other teams are in the field. But we are also very confident no one will beat us at this tournament.”
“Confidence is crucial in golf, and this year’s team has plenty of it,” said senior Griffin Pohl, who was named CCIW Golfer of the Week after his top-ten finish in the NCAA Division III Preview.
“We show up to every event knowing that we are more prepared and that we are the best team there,” Pohl said. “We expect to win each event. If we fall short, we view it as an opportunity to learn and are determined to be better for the next tournament.”
Coach Ott said that part of a team’s success depends on team chemistry.
“The time our guys spend together off the course is very important. In over 20 years of coaching, team culture has been the single biggest differentiator in finishing in the top-10 or winning the NCAA Championships,” Ott said. “If our guys focus on all the little things, the bigger things like championships will take care of themselves.”
Senior Quinn Clifford said Broadmoor, the course at Wabash, “looks like a classic short and tight country club. Courses like that usually tend to reward good wedge play. I will be focusing on driving my tee shots far and straight and then wedging the course to death. That recipe gets it done at most venues.”
The Titans wrap up their fall season with the Golfweek October Classic on Oct. 13-15 at the Sandestin Golf Resort, Sandestin, Florida, before they return next March for the spring season. They will be chasing their 13th straight CCIW championship.
Live scoring and additional details for the Wabash Invite will be available online at Scoreboard.clipped website.