The University of Southern Indiana men’s golf not only began a new year
back in September, but a new era in the history of the program.
For the first time in four seasons, Mark Franklin and Matt Scheessele will not
be on the golf course for the Screaming Eagles. Franklin and Scheessele
combined for two National Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar
awards, six All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors, and Franklin’s GLVC
Freshman of the Year award. The pair also led USI to three appearances in the
NCAA Division II North Regional.
USI Head Coach Jim Brown’s Eagles have to find their back to the
fairway after a difficult fall. The best finish for the inconsistent Eagles
was a fourth at the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational. USI also placed fifth at
the Saint Joseph’s Invitational and only placed ninth at the Great Lakes
Valley Conference Tournament.
Blossoming as a leader on the squad this fall was junior Andy Skodinski
(New Ross, Indiana). Skodinski averaged 76.9 per 18 holes, including a low of
74 in the final round of the GLVC Tournament.
Challenging Skodinski for the top spot on the team are sophomore Tim Garner
(Martinsville, Indiana), who averaged 78.8, and junior Brett Smith
(Jasper, Indiana), who had a 79.1 average. Brett Smith had his best round of
the fall at the USI Fall Invitational, shooting a 71. Garner also posted his
best round at USI’s only home tournament with a 75.
Also showing flashes of brilliance on the golf course during the falls was
sophomore Zach Smith (Evansville, Indiana). Zach Smith, who averaged
79.7, led USI with a 76 at the Mubea Fall Classic hosted by Northern Kentucky
University in September.
For the Eagles to pick-up ground and make a run at qualifying for the NCAA
Division II Tournament, Coach Brown and the Eagles will have to have
contributions from each spot in the line-up. While Skodinski, Garner, Brett
Smith, and Zach Smith are solid at one through four, the Eagles will be
looking for contributions or to challenge the top four from juniors Charlie
Lane (Bicknell, Indiana) and Ryan Overby (Providence, Kentucky);
sophomores Chad Horrell (Evansville, Indiana) and Nathan Wolfe
(Henderson, Kentucky); or freshmen Mike Heider (Anderson, Indiana) and B.J.
Pierce (Georgetown, Indiana).
Lane and Horrell led the Eagles in the Saint Joseph’s Invitational, each
shooting a 77. Overby had one of USI’s best rounds of the fall, shooting a
75 at the USI Fall Invitational.
Fall 2001Outlook
