The Western Illinois University Leathernecks men’s golf team will continue its spring season at the Keene Trace Collegiate in Nicholasville, Kentucky, on March 24. The event is hosted by Morehead State and features a one-round tournament at the Keene Trace Golf Course.
This competition is part of the team’s ongoing efforts in NCAA Division I men’s golf, where they participate as members of the Ohio Valley Conference and host events such as the WIU Intercollegiate, according to the official website. The Leathernecks are coming off a seventh-place finish at the Jackrabbit Invitational in Boulder Creek, Nevada. During that tournament, Mateo Rascon recorded a historic round of 65 (-7), one of the best in program history. Julian Ortiz and Easton Korell also contributed strong performances with rounds of 68 (-4) and 70 (-2), respectively.
The Ohio Valley Conference recently released its preseason poll for the upcoming season, predicting Western Illinois to finish eleventh with sixteen points. Sophomore Owen Howe was named to the conference’s Players to Watch list after his performance last season for the Leathernecks.
Returning players this year include Bayden Hubacher and Nathan Tillman, both of whom participated in all four events last season. Mateo Rascon also returns after tying for eighteenth place at last year’s OVC Championships. Owen Howe is back as well, having tied for thirty-eighth at those championships.
The Keene Trace Golf Course is a par-72 layout measuring 7,139 yards. The field includes teams from Morehead State, Xavier University, Transylvania University, Anderson University (Indiana), Miami University (Ohio), University of Kentucky, Mount St. Joseph University, University of Pikeville, Centre College, Eastern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University.
Western Illinois men’s golf operates within the university’s intercollegiate athletics framework and uses Harry Mussatto Golf Course as its home facility according to the official website. Alumni such as Wyatt Spier and Andrew Blackburn have previously excelled both athletically and academically while representing Western Illinois.
