2023-24 Mastodon Men's Golf Team
Photo by: Josh Gales
Mastodons Handling Championship-Level Expectations Just Fine
2/26/2024 11:53:00 AM | Men's Golf
If there were any questions as to how the Purdue Fort Wayne men's golf program was going to deal with increased expectations this spring, in wake of winning the program's first Horizon League championship a year ago, Mastodon followers can breathe easy.
"With the experience (of our players)," 16th-year coach Bill King said, "they are handling the expectations really well. It is nice to have those expectations, to have those high hopes."
The Mastodons return all five of the golfers (Kasey Lilly, Hunter Mefford, Nick Holder, Jadden Ousley, and Burke Pitz) who led the program to the league title last spring, and King brought in some new talent to challenge the veteran guys.
Purdue Fort Wayne blazed out of the spring gates last weekend with a record-setting performance from Lilly (again), and a strong team performance in the World Golf Village Collegiate event in Saint Augustine, Fla.
"Our fall (season) was amazing," King said. "We set numerous records, and we are on track to obliterate some records that have been set."
In the spring-opening event, graduate student Lilly set a new Mastodon mark for 54 holes with a score of 203 and finished second individually out of 108 golfers. His score broke his previous record by one stroke.
He was named this week's Horizon League Golfer of the Week and now holds eight of the top-10 54-hole scores in program history.
As a team, Purdue Fort Wayne finished fourth out of 18 teams with a team total of 866 behind winner Stetson (848).
The Mastodons topped the other three Horizon League programs, as IUPUI (875), Oakland (884), and Youngstown State (917), also competed.
Despite all that the Mastodons achieved in the past 12 months, King's student-athletes were selected second in the Horizon League Preseason Poll behind Wright State.
"We took it just fine," King said of the selection. "Wright State had an extremely good fall, as did we. They had a little bit better scoring average, and they returned a lot of golfers.
"For us to be second, that is nice, but we know how preseason rankings are. They really don't mean anything until you get out on the course."
To push the older players, King brought in three freshmen (AJ Agnew, Nick Bellush, and Brock Reschly) last fall, and Agnew and Bellush made the opening trip to Florida.
"They are really impressive," King said of the freshmen. "They are extremely talented and mature for their age. We're adding pieces every year that fit our culture."
And it is getting easier to do so, according to King.
Not only does King have a championship-level program to sell to prospects now, but he has the facilities at both Pine Valley Country Club and Apex Golf Lab to offer, as well.
"It is a totally different job now," King said in comparing his recruiting today to 16 years ago. "When I go to Junior events in Indiana and throughout the Midwest, and the Purdue Fort Wayne brand is brought up, we're in the conversation with the big boys now."
Earlier this winter, the program received a couple of tangible assets that will continue to draw top talent in.
First, the Mastodons received their championship rings for winning the 2023 Horizon League title and advancing to the NCAA Regional for the first time.
"It meant the world to me," King said, "because it was the culmination of 16 years of hard work by everybody."
In addition to that special moment, the Mastodon players are equally excited about the purchase of a brand new $90,000 travel van equipped with bucket seats, a TV, and wi-fi to "ride in style," according to King.
"It will make our travel much safer," King said, "and it will allow our kids to catch up on homework and ride in style and with more space. We are super excited about that.
"That came together with 16 years of fundraising and great community and donor support."
The Mastodons will continue their pursuit of excellence at the Daytona Beach intercollegiate hosted by Stetson on March 4 and 5.
"With the experience (of our players)," 16th-year coach Bill King said, "they are handling the expectations really well. It is nice to have those expectations, to have those high hopes."
The Mastodons return all five of the golfers (Kasey Lilly, Hunter Mefford, Nick Holder, Jadden Ousley, and Burke Pitz) who led the program to the league title last spring, and King brought in some new talent to challenge the veteran guys.
Purdue Fort Wayne blazed out of the spring gates last weekend with a record-setting performance from Lilly (again), and a strong team performance in the World Golf Village Collegiate event in Saint Augustine, Fla.
"Our fall (season) was amazing," King said. "We set numerous records, and we are on track to obliterate some records that have been set."
In the spring-opening event, graduate student Lilly set a new Mastodon mark for 54 holes with a score of 203 and finished second individually out of 108 golfers. His score broke his previous record by one stroke.
He was named this week's Horizon League Golfer of the Week and now holds eight of the top-10 54-hole scores in program history.
As a team, Purdue Fort Wayne finished fourth out of 18 teams with a team total of 866 behind winner Stetson (848).
The Mastodons topped the other three Horizon League programs, as IUPUI (875), Oakland (884), and Youngstown State (917), also competed.
Despite all that the Mastodons achieved in the past 12 months, King's student-athletes were selected second in the Horizon League Preseason Poll behind Wright State.
"We took it just fine," King said of the selection. "Wright State had an extremely good fall, as did we. They had a little bit better scoring average, and they returned a lot of golfers.
"For us to be second, that is nice, but we know how preseason rankings are. They really don't mean anything until you get out on the course."
To push the older players, King brought in three freshmen (AJ Agnew, Nick Bellush, and Brock Reschly) last fall, and Agnew and Bellush made the opening trip to Florida.
"They are really impressive," King said of the freshmen. "They are extremely talented and mature for their age. We're adding pieces every year that fit our culture."
And it is getting easier to do so, according to King.
Not only does King have a championship-level program to sell to prospects now, but he has the facilities at both Pine Valley Country Club and Apex Golf Lab to offer, as well.
"It is a totally different job now," King said in comparing his recruiting today to 16 years ago. "When I go to Junior events in Indiana and throughout the Midwest, and the Purdue Fort Wayne brand is brought up, we're in the conversation with the big boys now."
Earlier this winter, the program received a couple of tangible assets that will continue to draw top talent in.
First, the Mastodons received their championship rings for winning the 2023 Horizon League title and advancing to the NCAA Regional for the first time.
"It meant the world to me," King said, "because it was the culmination of 16 years of hard work by everybody."
In addition to that special moment, the Mastodon players are equally excited about the purchase of a brand new $90,000 travel van equipped with bucket seats, a TV, and wi-fi to "ride in style," according to King.
"It will make our travel much safer," King said, "and it will allow our kids to catch up on homework and ride in style and with more space. We are super excited about that.
"That came together with 16 years of fundraising and great community and donor support."
The Mastodons will continue their pursuit of excellence at the Daytona Beach intercollegiate hosted by Stetson on March 4 and 5.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
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