Red Wolves - IU East

RICHMOND, Ind. - Wes Drees found himself "everywhere" Aug. 24 during the IU East Fall Tee-Off Tournament at Highland Lake Golf Course.

His final destination turned out to be the top of the leaderboard.

Drees earned medal honors in his first college golf meet to highlight the Red Wolves' performance in the first competition of the fall season.

IU East put three players in the 70s, but the Red Wolves fell 313-314 against Lourdes College.

Drees (Versailles, Ohio/Versailles High School) fired a 76 to edge teammate Nick Ary (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville High School) and Lourdes' Brandon Henry, who both carded 77s.

Drees estimated he hit only two or three fairways during his round, but he scrambled well enough to birdie holes No. 12 and 13 and par out the rest of his round.

"We look for even greater things from Wes from here out," said IU East coach Von Ebeling.

The Red Wolves' 18-hole team score was just two strokes off of the program's NAIA school record.

"The team did great," Drees said. "Everybody here is saying this can be one of the best teams IU East has ever had."

IU East's Zack Palmer (Richmond, Ind./Richmond High School) tied for fourth with a 78.

Derrick McNeely (Connersville, Ind./Connersville High School) and Justin Carter (Centerville, Ind./Centerville High School) tied for sixth with an 83

Hubie Branstetter (Brookville, Ind./Franklin County High School) was ninth with an 85.

Brandon Loomis (Union City, Ind./Union City Community High School) was tenth with an 87.

Lee Oakes (Hagerstown, Ind./Hagerstown High School) was 11th with a 90.

It was the first NAIA intercollegiate event of any kind for Lourdes, a new NAIA school for the 2010-11 school year

"It was a great atmosphere today," Ebeling said. "Our returners played better than they ever have, and Wes did well for his first meet.

"Anytime you lose by one stroke it's heartbreaking, but you also have to be happy for Lourdes to get a win in their first event."

IU East returns to the links Aug. 30 at the University of St. Francis Invitational. IU East's golf teams compete in short fall seasons to prepare for the regular seasons in the spring.

Click here to view results from the IU East Fall Tee-Off Tournament