Midseason Midwest trip for men’s golf will set the stage for rankings in mid-October
Carson-Newman men’s golf will make the long drive up to Findlay, Ohio for the Doc Spragg Invitational to face unfamiliar Midwest foes receiving votes ahead of the Eagles in the Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches’ poll and set them up for Clippd rankings, which come out in the next few weeks.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman men's golf will make the long drive up to Findlay, Ohio for the Doc Spragg Invitational to face unfamiliar Midwest foes receiving votes ahead of the Eagles in the Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches' poll and set them up for Clippd rankings, which come out in the next few weeks.
The Eagles will be making the trip to Ohio well rested. The last time the Eagles saw the golf course in true tournament form was the Hurricane Invitational on September 22 and 23 where they placed 9th. While the Eagles had three top 25 finishers, it was the final few holes that C-N would drop two places among the stacked field.
Aidan Collier, Dylan Frein, and Theo Baker were the three top 25 finishers for the Eagles and will highlight the top of the lineup for the Doc Spragg this week in that order. Collier was the best finisher for C-N, tied for 12th with two rounds in the red. His weekend was headlined by an opening round of 68 (-4), good for the lowest round of any Eagle this season. Frein was next best with a 70 (-2) on day two of the event to slot him tied for 16th. Baker finished tied for 25th with one round at even par and his two other rounds in the low 70's.
Brady Wentz will also join the Eagles for their trip to Ohio. The transfer has been a staple of the C-N lineup this season. One of the most consistent players this season for C-N, the junior hasn't shot a round above 75 (+3) this season. Owen Larson will also return to the lineup this week in the five slot. After a challenging opening round last time out, the sophomore improved by five strokes to put together two rounds in the low 70's to round out the event.
This will be Carson-Newman's opportunity to show how competitive they can be nationally. The field consists of opponents that are largely foreign to the Eagles. While Carson-Newman is receiving votes in the Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches' Poll (3 points), two teams in the field have more points than Carson-Newman.
Wayne State (MI) is the favorite in the event; the Warriors are receiving votes with nine points in the poll. They are followed closely by Tiffin, who has eight points. Should the Eagles come out on top of the field, it would benefit them in the rankings and hand them their first team victory since March 14, 2023, when Carson-Newman won their home Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate event.
This trip to a different part of the country presents a new challenge for the Eagles, as the grass type changes. While Carson-Newman is used to the southern Bermuda grasses and greens, Findlay Country Club hosts Bent grass greens, fairways, and rough. Due to the growth pattern of Bent grass, the golf ball will travel with a quicker speed than it would in Bermuda conditions.
Carson-Newman will have the opportunity to take on its shortest yardage of the season this week as well. Findlay Country Club's Championship tees play at 6,730 yards, giving the Eagles a chance to capitalize on scoring opportunities at short distance.
This will be Carson-Newman's third event of the season before they return to the South to take on the Bearcat Fall Classic in South Carolina.
The Eagles tee off for round one Monday morning around 8:30 for the opening round of the Doc Spragg Invitational. Live scoring will be available on the Clippd Website.
