If the University of Southern Indiana men's golf team can match the scores they posted in the last three tournaments of 2002, the Screaming Eagles will be making an appearance in a 2003 NCAA Division II Super Regional.
The Eagles were sluggish in the first nine tournaments of last season before making a charge in the final weeks of the year. USI, as a team, averaged 314.3 per 18 holes until the final three tournament when they posted scores around the 300 mark in seven consecutive rounds.
A trip to the NCAA Division II Championship would be a fitting conclusion to the career of Head Coach Jim Brown. Brown has take five teams to the NCAA Division II Tournament and three individuals to the regional in 25 years as the coach.
Blossoming as a leader on the squad last year was senior Andy Skodinski
(New Ross, Indiana). Skodinski was named a Scholar All-American by the Golf
Coaches Association, All-GLVC, and placed fifth at the NCAA Division II Super
Regional. He also led USI individually in six different tournaments and
averaged 75.6 in 11 tournaments and 19 rounds.
Following Skodinski is junior Tim Garner
(Martinsville, Indiana), who averaged 78.1, and senior Brett Smith
(Jasper, Indiana), who had a 78.5 average. Brett Smith, who also was named
Scholar All-American, had his best round in the fall at the USI Fall Invitational, shooting a 71. Garner also posted his
best round, a 74, on four different occasions.
One of the reasons for the improved performance in the spring was senior Nathan Wolfe (Henderson, Kentucky). Wolfe, who had a top round of 72 at the Greg Palmer Eagle Classic, improved to from 82.8 to 77.0 in the spring and finished the year averaging 78.9.
In addition to these four players, the Eagles have several returning players who will challenge to be in the top five. Returning are seniors Charlie Lane (Bicknell, Indiana) and Ryan Overby (Providence, Kentucky); juniors Chad Horrell (Evansville, Indiana) and Zach Smith (Evansville, Indiana); and sophomore Mike Heider (Anderson, Indiana).
Zach Smith, who averaged 79.8 last season, led USI at the Mubea Fall Classic hosted by Northern Kentucky University in September. 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.
New to the team this season is freshman Michael Bradshaw (Boonville,
Indiana). Bradshaw lettered in golf and basketball during his career at BHS.
He led the Pioneers all four season, leading the team in most fairways, most
greens, most birdies, and best scoring average. The Boonville, Indiana, native
also was named BHS Most Valuable Player each season.
An Academic All-Big 8 performer, Bradshaw placed second at the regional as a
senior, qualifying for state tournament.
Fall 2001Outlook
