Coming off its second-straight Big Ten Match Play Championship title, the Indiana men’s golf team will travel to the Bahamas for the Nexus Collegiate. Indiana will play 54 holes over the span of three days.
No. 32 Indiana will compete against eight other schools Monday through Wednesday at the distinguished Albany Club. Five of the nine invited programs are ranked in the top 40 of the latest GolfWeek rankings, with host No. 22 Auburn University at the top of the list. No. 39 Ohio State is the only other Big Ten team competing in the event.
This is Indiana’s first stroke play tournament of the spring and second event in two weeks. The Hoosiers stayed in Florida for an additional three days after their successful weekend and used the time to play in an alumni golf outing to keep spirits high.
“It was a relaxed atmosphere,” head coach Mike Mayer said. “We tried not to overdo anything. We have lots of energy right now, and we are in good enough shape.”
Related: [Indiana men’s golf senior Mitch Davis named as Big Ten Golfer of the Week]
The Hoosiers returned home for a few days before departing for the Bahamas on Saturday.
Indiana was inconsistent last spring in its stroke play tournaments. Mayer said the team’s depth is as strong as it has ever been under his leadership, which can make a big difference this spring.
“Golf is a tough game to be consistent (in), but we are in a better position this season,” Mayer said.
Sophomore Clay Merchent is the only Hoosier who has experience playing on the course at the Albany Club. Mayer said the team is unfamiliar with the course and hasn’t studied it much in advance, but from what he has learned it is a scorable golf course, where low numbers are achievable.
“We need to take it one tournament at a time,” Mayer said. “We just need 1 to 2 (golfers) to step up, but I know all five can step up.”
The Nexus Collegiate will be Indiana’s second and final event in the month of February. Live scoring is available via GolfStat.
