IU men's golf team, new asst. head to Louisville

Two tournaments and two individual champions spell early-season success for the IU men’s golf team.

Last week, the team also beat defending champion UCLA by 23 strokes.

Junior Alex Martin – who won the most recent tournament, the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational – said he hopes to gain confidence but added the team finish also meant a lot to him.

“It was a big win for me, obviously,” Martin said. “(The) putt on the last hole got the team second place over Oklahoma State, so I felt that was as equally a big deal.”

The next test for Martin and the Hoosiers will be the Cardinal Intercollegiate in Louisville, Ky., starting today. Although the competition might not be as tough as in previous tournaments, IU must remain focused.

“We need to go down to Louisville – and basically the rest of the season – and feel like we can win every tournament that we play in,” Martin said. “(We need to be) going in there and not being overconfident but knowing we can compete with anybody.”

IU coach Mike Mayer said this tournament is also about achieving balance.

With key tournaments such as the NCAA Regionals to be held at a variety of golf courses, Mayer said it is important to be prepared to go to easier courses – like in Louisville – and shoot low numbers.

Mayer added that with this tournament field featuring a lot unfamiliar teams, the Hoosiers will get a chance to see how they compare with new faces.

“We want to go challenge ourselves and see other programs and see other teams and see how we stack up against them,” Mayer said.

Still, IU will be familiar with at least one team in the field, as the Hoosiers will again match up with Louisville. The Cardinals got the better of their counterparts across the Ohio River at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate, finishing two spots ahead of the Hoosiers.

Senior Jorge Campillo took home the individual championship in the event.

Martin and Campillo will travel to Louisville along with fellow teammates seniors Seth Brandon and Drew Allenspach and freshmen Chase Wright and David Erdy.

The Hoosiers have a new face traveling with them this season as well.

Newly hired assistant coach Jamie Broce will make his first trip since officially being named to the position. Mayer said he searched the country and looked at more than 30 applications before making a decision, and now he has a choice with which he couldn’t be happier.

“With Jamie Broce, we really think we found everything and more,” Mayer said. “He has the full trust of myself and every member of this golf team, and we are thrilled that he is on board.”

After his senior year as a Cardinal, in which Broce earned Mid-American Conference Player of the Year and Sportsman of the Year awards, the 1999 Ball State graduate spent nine years playing professional golf before coming to IU.

Broce said he is excited to come to such an already-established program like IU.

“For me, personally, it’s a huge bonus, because the team so far has played so well,” he said. “I hope for me personally to blend in as well as possible and help the individuals when and where I can.”

Martin added that he, too, is happy with his new coach.

“I think the world of Jamie,” he said. “He’s a great guy and has a lot of experience he has brought to us so far. He knows what he’s talking about, and I think he is going to be a great asset to the program.”