Red Wolves - IU East

The Indiana University East men's golf team will compete in an NAIA National Championships Qualifying Meet April 29 and 30 at Jefferson Golf & Country Club in Blacklick, Ohio.

The team champion and individual medalist advance to the NAIA Men's Golf National Championships May 18-21 at TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.

This is the IU East men's golf program's first appearance in an NAIA National Championships Qualifying Meet.

The Red Wolves seek the school's first men's golf national qualifiers.

LAST TIME OUT

IU East finished second at the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament April 23 in Richmond, Ky.

The Red Wolves shot a 36-hole season best of 663. Brescia University won the tournament with a 609.

Junior Nick Ary (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville High School) led IU East with a 158 and finished in seventh place.

Ary also was named to the KIAC All-Conference team.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

The NAIA National Championships Qualifying Meet field includes all four KIAC men's golf programs, plus Ohio Dominican University and State University College of Technology at Delhi (N.Y.).

Ohio Dominican was No. 1 in the most recent group rating. IU East was No. 5.

Ohio Dominican and SUNY Delhi all have multiple players capable of contending for medal honors.

Garrett Veal and KIAC Player of the Year Blake Shelton are the top individuals from KIAC champion Brescia.

NOTABLE QUOTABLE

"Our team exhausted as much effort as it could trying to keep up with and beat Brescia University at the KIAC tournament. In our attempt to qualify nationally, we will need to be well rested.

"During the KIAC Tournament I felt our determination may have made us a little tense. Mentally we have to be relaxed yet motivated to compete at a higher level.

"It will be the first time all of the KIAC schools will play at Jefferson Country Club in Blacklick, Ohio. If we continue to work hard during our practice round, there is still a chance we may put our very best scores up and win."

- IU East coach Von Ebeling

PLAYER TO WATCH

IU East freshman Zack Palmer (Richmond, Ind./Richmond High School) shot 164 at the KIAC tournament, including a season-best 79 in the opening round.

"Zack Palmer really played well during our practice rounds and the KIAC Tournament," Ebeling said. "I was happy to see Zack get his scores down into the 70s.

"I sense that his work ethic this spring season is finally starting to bear fruit for him athletically. I think the addition of Zack to this team will fully pay off as he advances his performance from year to year until he graduates."

NUMBERS OF NOTE

Ohio Dominican is 61st in GolfStat's NAIA national head-to-head rankings. SUNY-Delhi is 89th. IU East is 156th.

FOLLOW THE TOURNAMENT

Follow the Red Wolves' progress at www.iueredwolves.com and at www.golfstat.com.