Hoosiers open play at Wolf Run in Zionsville

For IU coach Mike Mayer,  this weekend will mark a new chapter for the Hoosiers.

Graduating seniors Drew Allenspach, Seth Brandon and Jorge Campillo left their mark on the Hoosier program, delivering three NCAA Tournament appearances, but now it is time for a new beginning.

“We are really looking to start a new era,” Mayer said. “We lost three players who played a tremendous amount of golf in their four years, and we are trying to find out what life is going to be like without them.”

The new “era” for the Hoosiers will open this weekend when they host the Wolf Run Intercollegiate at Wolf Run Golf Course in Zionsville, Ind. 

Mayer called it a very difficult course and one of the best fields for the tournament ever.
Senior Alex Martin will lead the Hoosier lineup this weekend and will be joined by junior Ren Han, sophomores David Erdy and Chase Wright, and freshman Michael McGee. Rounding out the Hoosier contingent will be freshman Corey Ziedonis, who will compete as an individual.

Martin begins his final season looking to build off his summer success. Martin captured the 2009 Ohio Amateur Championship,and Mayer said he believes it is finally time his senior is rewarded for his accomplishments.

“He’s our All-American candidate,” Mayer said. “I don’t think he’s quite getting the recognition he deserves. He was All-Big Ten last year and probably should have been honorable mention All-American last year.”

Han is another potential standout.

“He was a man on a mission in that qualifier,” Mayer said. “He wanted to be in that lineup and he was our lowest score at our longest golf course (during tryouts) we will play all year.”

Erdy’s success continued over the summer when he qualified for the United States Open along with the U.S. and Western Amateurs, two of the most prestigious events in amateur golf.

Wright finished his freshman season with the second-lowest scoring average in school history for a freshman and will begin this season playing No. 3 in the Hoosiers’ top-five.

The 2009 class for the Hoosiers includes four players ranked in Golfweek’s top-120 incoming freshman.

Two will make their debut this weekend.

McGee, the 2009 Kansas High School State Champion medalist, finished number two in tryouts and has pleased Mayer with his early play.

“Michael is a good player,” Mayer said. “He’s a tough-minded young man, and to beat Chase Wright and David Erdy in tryouts is saying something.”

The 2008 Indiana High School State champion, Ziedonis, will complete the roster for the Hoosiers this weekend.

His play, along with McGee’s, has caught the eye of their senior leader.

“They both are really good players,” Martin said. “There is always a learning curve when it comes to college golf, but I think they will get over the hump quickly and be ready to put some scores on the board.”