WHITTINGTON, ILL. - The wave of momentum proved to be bigger than the unfamiliarity of course and opposition on Monday and Tuesday as the Madison College men's golf team rallied over the final 27 holes to win the Rend Lake College Invitational at the Rend Lake Golf Complex. The WolfPack trailed Mineral Area College by seven following the first 27 holes on Monday, and overcame that deficit on Day 2 to post a 926 team total for a two-shot victory. The win marks the third consecutive tournament victory for the Pack, who have earned five team trophies in seven events this fall. Madison College has not won that many events in a full season since the 2006-07 team claimed seven victories.

The WolfPack opened the tournament with a 466 score, shooting a 305 on the first 18 holes and following it up with a 161 for the front side of the next round. Tuesday's opening nine ended at 151 for an 18-hole total of 312 that left them four back of MAC at 613 following 18-hole totals of 303 and 310. Madison College made its move over the final 18, posting a 309 to best the Cardinals at 928.



Freshman Deegan Riley was the top individual player for the WolfPack, signing off on rounds of 70 (-2), 78 (+6), and 75 (+3) for a seven-over-par 223 that placed him sixth overall. The Milton, Wisconsin, native, posted a team-best 32 on his opening nine and a dozen birdies overall en route to his sixth Top Ten results of the fall. Frank Bellino, a freshman from NCAA Division I Southern Illinois University beat senior teammate Justin Wingerter in a playoff for the individual title after both shot one-under-par 215 for the tournament. The Salukis has five golfers all finish in the top seven playing as individuals and not a team.

Sophomore Brady Callmer keyed the second day rally as he improved by ten shots from Monday to Tuesday. The former Edgerton HS athlete turned in rounds of 79 (+7), 79 (+7), and 74 (+2) for a two-day total of 232 (+16) that placed him tied for 11th on the leaderboard. First year Jacob Brown was one shot back of that in 13th place with a 233 (+17) after shooting 77 (+5), 76 (+4), and 80 (+8). Also in the Top 20 was second year Brent Schmiesing, whose scores of 79 (+7), 79 (+7), and 80 (+8) placed him 18th with a 238 (+22).

Freshman Alex Sutter began the event playing as an individual on Monday before joining the counting five on Tuesday. He shot 88-85-80 for a two-day total of 253 (+37) and was 29th overall. Fellow first year Henry Pickhardt signed off on a 125 total through the first 27 holes, but did not finish his rounds on Tuesday.



Up Next:

Madison College is off for the winter break in their 2023-24 schedule, and will resume competition in late March. The spring season will culminate in the WolfPack's first-ever appearance in the NJCAA Region 4 Division II Tournament at PrairieView Golf Club in Bryon, Illinois. The three-day tournament will run April 28-30, with the top three teams and the next seven individuals earning spots in the 2024 NJCAA Division II Men's Golf National Championships at Twin Hills Golf & Country Club in Joplin, Missouri, from May 21-24.

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