Saturday, April 3
Bloomington, Ind.
Indiana University
vs
Hoosier Invitational
Indiana Men’s Golf Set to Make Competitive Debut at The Pfau Course
4/2/2021 10:20:00 AM | Men's Golf
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana men's golf welcomes eight other teams to town this weekend as IU plays host to the Hoosier Collegiate Invitational at The Pfau Course. It marks the first competitive collegiate event to be play the highly acclaimed new course, which opened last June. The first round will now tee off on Saturday at 10 a.m.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Hoosier Collegiate Invitational • Bloomington, Ind.
The Pfau Course
Par 71 • 7,432
Live Scoring via Golfstat
TEAMS COMPETING (9)
No. 44 Indiana (host), Ball State, Cincinnati, Eastern Michigan, Memphis, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Nebraska
INDIANA LINEUP
Ethan Shepherd (Sr.; 74.01)
Brock Ochsenreiter (Gr.; 73.51)
Evan Yakubov (Sr.; 77.17)
Tate Heintzelman (Sr.; 75.00)
Drew Giacchetto (So.; 80.00)
(Career average)
Tournament Notes
The event will tee off Saturday at 10 a.m. in a shotgun start with continuous play into the second round. It was initially scheduled for 9 a.m. but there is fog expected. The final round on Sunday will be off split tees starting at 9 a.m.
Showcasing The Pfau Course
The Hoosier Collegiate Invitational marks the first-ever collegiate tournament to be played at The Pfau Course. Designed by highly-acclaimed architect Steve Smyers and two-time major winner and Hoosier native Fuzzy Zoeller, The Pfau Course opened to the public on June 15, 2020 and offers a unique, world-class layout that is set in the natural beauty of southern Indiana.
Among the notable features are 147 bunkers, greens that range in size from 4,145 to 10,014 square feet, and six sets of tees that extend to as much as 7,908 yards. Smyers utilized the area's natural topography in designing the course, while also highlighting the combination of forest, open space and forest edges that result in both amazing views and a wonderful golfing test.
It has already garnered national acclaim, as it was named the third-best New Course in the Country by Golf Digest and the fourth-best College Campus Course in the Nation by GolfWeek.
Due to COVID-19 last season and construction on the course previously, this weekend marks the first time the Hoosiers have competed in Bloomington since April 2017, when they hosted the Hoosier Invitational at the IU Golf Course.
Merchent Earns Third Top-10 Finish
Freshman Clay Merchent finished tied for eighth at the General Hackler Championship, marking his third top-10 finish in as many tournaments. He tied for third place in the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate Feb. 14-16. Of his nine rounds of stroke play this season, he has carded a 69 three times and is currently averaging a 70.78. Merchent is currently ranked No. 48 in the Golfstat individual rankings.
Hoosiers Making Season Debuts This Weekend
Sophomore Eric Berggren makes his debut in the team lineup at the Hoosier Collegiate Invitational. He played in three events last season. Making their first appearances this year as individuals includes sophomore Drew Giacchetto, Tate Heintzelman and Evan Yakubov.
Tournament No. 1 Recap – Big Ten Match Play Championship
The Hoosiers rallied to defeat Iowa, 3-2, in the Big Ten Match Play finals to earn their first title in the event since 2009. IU defeated Wisconsin in the semifinals, 3.5-1.5, and earned 4.5-0.5 victories against both Ohio State and Minnesota on the way to the championship. The event saw the Indiana debuts of freshmen Drew Salyers and Clay Merchent. Junior Harry Reynolds earned Big Ten Men's Golfer of the Week for his 4-0 performance while the team was named Golfweek's Men's Team of the Week.
Tournament No. 2 Recap – Mobile Bay Intercollegiate
In the first stroke play event of the season, Indiana came in second at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate. It marked the best team finish for Indiana in a stroke play event since the Fuzzy Zoeller Invitational in Sept. 2018. The Hoosiers were led by Merchent, who finished tied for third. All six Hoosiers competing, including Brock Ochsenreiter who played as an individual, finished in the top 31.
Tournament No. 3 Recap – Spartan Collegiate at Sea Island
Merchent led the way as he picked up his first career eagle on his way to a tie for ninth place. Junior Harry Reynolds (T23) and senior Ethan Shepherd (T30) also picked up top-30 finishes for the Hoosiers, who turned in their best round on the final day (285) and finished in ninth place.
Tournament No. 4 Recap – General Hackler Championship
Indiana made a final day push to move up three spots and finish in seventh place at the General Hackler Championship. Merchent carded a 2-under 70 to move up 16 spots and finish tied for eighth. Fellow freshman Drew Salyers also landed in the top-20 as he tied for 29th.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Hoosier Collegiate Invitational • Bloomington, Ind.
The Pfau Course
Par 71 • 7,432
Live Scoring via Golfstat
TEAMS COMPETING (9)
No. 44 Indiana (host), Ball State, Cincinnati, Eastern Michigan, Memphis, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Nebraska
INDIANA LINEUP
- Clay Merchent (Fr.; 70.78)
- Drew Salyers (Fr.; 72.22)
- Mitch Davis (Jr.; 73.31)
- Harry Reynolds (Jr.; 74.71)
- Eric Berggren (So.; 77.78)
Ethan Shepherd (Sr.; 74.01)
Brock Ochsenreiter (Gr.; 73.51)
Evan Yakubov (Sr.; 77.17)
Tate Heintzelman (Sr.; 75.00)
Drew Giacchetto (So.; 80.00)
(Career average)
Tournament Notes
The event will tee off Saturday at 10 a.m. in a shotgun start with continuous play into the second round. It was initially scheduled for 9 a.m. but there is fog expected. The final round on Sunday will be off split tees starting at 9 a.m.
Showcasing The Pfau Course
The Hoosier Collegiate Invitational marks the first-ever collegiate tournament to be played at The Pfau Course. Designed by highly-acclaimed architect Steve Smyers and two-time major winner and Hoosier native Fuzzy Zoeller, The Pfau Course opened to the public on June 15, 2020 and offers a unique, world-class layout that is set in the natural beauty of southern Indiana.
Among the notable features are 147 bunkers, greens that range in size from 4,145 to 10,014 square feet, and six sets of tees that extend to as much as 7,908 yards. Smyers utilized the area's natural topography in designing the course, while also highlighting the combination of forest, open space and forest edges that result in both amazing views and a wonderful golfing test.
It has already garnered national acclaim, as it was named the third-best New Course in the Country by Golf Digest and the fourth-best College Campus Course in the Nation by GolfWeek.
Due to COVID-19 last season and construction on the course previously, this weekend marks the first time the Hoosiers have competed in Bloomington since April 2017, when they hosted the Hoosier Invitational at the IU Golf Course.
Merchent Earns Third Top-10 Finish
Freshman Clay Merchent finished tied for eighth at the General Hackler Championship, marking his third top-10 finish in as many tournaments. He tied for third place in the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate Feb. 14-16. Of his nine rounds of stroke play this season, he has carded a 69 three times and is currently averaging a 70.78. Merchent is currently ranked No. 48 in the Golfstat individual rankings.
Hoosiers Making Season Debuts This Weekend
Sophomore Eric Berggren makes his debut in the team lineup at the Hoosier Collegiate Invitational. He played in three events last season. Making their first appearances this year as individuals includes sophomore Drew Giacchetto, Tate Heintzelman and Evan Yakubov.
Tournament No. 1 Recap – Big Ten Match Play Championship
The Hoosiers rallied to defeat Iowa, 3-2, in the Big Ten Match Play finals to earn their first title in the event since 2009. IU defeated Wisconsin in the semifinals, 3.5-1.5, and earned 4.5-0.5 victories against both Ohio State and Minnesota on the way to the championship. The event saw the Indiana debuts of freshmen Drew Salyers and Clay Merchent. Junior Harry Reynolds earned Big Ten Men's Golfer of the Week for his 4-0 performance while the team was named Golfweek's Men's Team of the Week.
Tournament No. 2 Recap – Mobile Bay Intercollegiate
In the first stroke play event of the season, Indiana came in second at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate. It marked the best team finish for Indiana in a stroke play event since the Fuzzy Zoeller Invitational in Sept. 2018. The Hoosiers were led by Merchent, who finished tied for third. All six Hoosiers competing, including Brock Ochsenreiter who played as an individual, finished in the top 31.
Tournament No. 3 Recap – Spartan Collegiate at Sea Island
Merchent led the way as he picked up his first career eagle on his way to a tie for ninth place. Junior Harry Reynolds (T23) and senior Ethan Shepherd (T30) also picked up top-30 finishes for the Hoosiers, who turned in their best round on the final day (285) and finished in ninth place.
Tournament No. 4 Recap – General Hackler Championship
Indiana made a final day push to move up three spots and finish in seventh place at the General Hackler Championship. Merchent carded a 2-under 70 to move up 16 spots and finish tied for eighth. Fellow freshman Drew Salyers also landed in the top-20 as he tied for 29th.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
IUVB vs. Northwestern: Highlights
Thursday, September 25
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 5 (at Iowa)
Wednesday, September 24
FB: Aiden Fisher Media Availability (9/23/25)
Tuesday, September 23
FB: Pat Coogan Media Availability (9/23/25)
Tuesday, September 23