As the Indiana men’s golf team heads to the latter half of the regular season, the Hoosiers sent four individuals to compete in the Don Benbow Butler Spring Invitational on April 1st in Indianapolis.
Despite adverse weather shortening the contest from 54 to 36 holes, Indiana freshman Nick Piesen took home first, marking his second career collegiate victory. His first victory came earlier this season at the Cardinal Invitational on Oct. 23rd in Muncie, Indiana. Piesen shot a combined score of 134 (68-66; -6) over three rounds.
Piesen's triumph at the Highland Golf and Country Club was highlighted by a career-best performance, shooting a 133 (68-65; -7) and notching an impressive 12 birdies along the way. Piesen finished the first round tied for fourth but went five-under par on Day 2 to defeat Oakland University’s Robert Burns by two strokes.
After placing first out of 107 individuals, Piesen’s narrow victory was impressive enough to win Big Ten Men’s Golfer of the Week for the first time in his young career. Piesen’s performances as an individual have been stellar this season, placing in the top 20 in each of the three individual tournaments.
The 16-team slate at the Butler Spring Invitational also included Ball State University, Cleveland State University, the University of Detroit Mercy, the University of Evansville, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Franklin College, Indian Hills Community College, the University of Indianapolis, IUPUI, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Youngstown State University, Illinois, Morehead State University, Purdue and West Virginia University.
Indiana’s remaining three individuals consisted of junior Kieran Hogarth, freshman Neri Checcucci, and fifth-year senior Eric Berggren. Hogarth ended his 36-hole bout tied for 50th with a final scorecard of 145 (76-69; +5), carding five birdies.
Checcuci and Berggren placed third and fourth for Indiana. Checcucci, a native of Florence, Italy, finished the tournament with a 146 (75-71; +6) while tying for 61st place. Berggren upheld Indiana’s consistent showing with scores of 147 (73-74; +7) and five birdies to slate him tied for 71st.
With five tournaments under their belt this spring season, the Hoosiers gear up for the final two contests of the regular season before heading into Big Ten Tournament play in Columbus, Ohio.
Coming up, the Hoosiers will compete for the first time this season in Bloomington at the Pfau Course on April 6-7. After the Hoosier Collegiate this weekend, Indiana wraps up regular season play at the Robert Kepler Invitational in Columbus, Ohio, on April 19-21.
