Indiana University Athletics
IU Men’s Golf Adds Three on National Signing Day
11/10/2022 5:45:00 PM | Men's Golf
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana men's golf head coach Mike Mayer announced the additions of Neri Checcucci, Nick Piesen, and Cole Starnes on National Signing Day on Thursday.
"We are excited to welcome Neri, Nick and Cole to our Hoosier Family," Mayer said. "They all bring extensive tournament experience and a wealth of golf knowledge to our pro-gram.
"Neri has played extremely well in national events throughout Europe and the United States. Nick is an AJGA winner, qualified this past summer for the USGA Junior Amateur Championship and just recently won the Ohio State High School Championship in Division 1. Cole is the 2021 Indiana Boys State Junior Champion, a two-time All-State performer, and qualified and played in the USGA Amateur Championship this summer.
"These three outstanding Hoosiers will help us continue to elevate our program and they will represent Indiana University with passion."
Neri Checcucci
San Casciano Val di Pesa, Florence, Italy
Istituto Sacro Cuore Firenze
Plays for Istituto Sacro Cuore Firenze in Florence, Italy … member of the Italian National Golf Team … won Golfweek Junior Tour at Harmony Landing in Kentucky … scheduled to play in the South Beach international Amateur Championship in Florida … also competes in tennis, alpine skiing, rugby and swimming … plans to study business administration … son of Michele Checcucci and Maria Giovanna bazzani … has one brother, Giovanni.
Nick Piesen
Strongsville, Ohio
Saint Ignatius High School
A four-time letterwinner for head coach PJ Meyers at Saint Ignatius High School … 2022 OHSAA Division 1 Individual State Champion … All-Ohio First Team in both 2020 and 2022 … 2021 All-Ohio Second Team … three-time All-Northeast Ohio District First Team … two-time OHSAA Division 1 Team State Champion (2021, '22) … the Wildcats shot a two-day total of 591 in the 2021 state tournament to break the OHSAA Division 1 record by 15 strokes … 2020 OHSAA Division 1 Team State runner-up … won the 2021 AJGA at Knollwood Presented by Yoder Oil … holds the school record for single-season scoring average at 70.94 … qualifier for 2022 US Junior Amateur … plans study sports management or business … favorite professional golfer is Rory McIlroy … favorite course is Pinehurst 4 … son of Scott and Vicki Piesen.
Cole Starnes
Fishers, Ind.
Hamilton Southeastern High School
A four-time letterwinner for head coach David Young at Hamilton Southeastern … 2021 and '22 Indiana All-State selection … youngest men's golfer in school history to be named All-State following his sophomore season … helped HSE to a third-place finish at the 2022 ISHAA State Finals … played a scoring average of 73.69 in 2022 … placed second in the 2021 AJGA Randy Wise Junior … qualified and played in the 2022 US Amateur … 2021 Boys State Junior Champion … son of Nick and Casie Starnes … has one brother, Dane.
@IndianaMGolf
For all the latest on Indiana University men's golf, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMGolf on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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"We are excited to welcome Neri, Nick and Cole to our Hoosier Family," Mayer said. "They all bring extensive tournament experience and a wealth of golf knowledge to our pro-gram.
"Neri has played extremely well in national events throughout Europe and the United States. Nick is an AJGA winner, qualified this past summer for the USGA Junior Amateur Championship and just recently won the Ohio State High School Championship in Division 1. Cole is the 2021 Indiana Boys State Junior Champion, a two-time All-State performer, and qualified and played in the USGA Amateur Championship this summer.
"These three outstanding Hoosiers will help us continue to elevate our program and they will represent Indiana University with passion."
Neri Checcucci
San Casciano Val di Pesa, Florence, Italy
Istituto Sacro Cuore Firenze
Plays for Istituto Sacro Cuore Firenze in Florence, Italy … member of the Italian National Golf Team … won Golfweek Junior Tour at Harmony Landing in Kentucky … scheduled to play in the South Beach international Amateur Championship in Florida … also competes in tennis, alpine skiing, rugby and swimming … plans to study business administration … son of Michele Checcucci and Maria Giovanna bazzani … has one brother, Giovanni.
Nick Piesen
Strongsville, Ohio
Saint Ignatius High School
A four-time letterwinner for head coach PJ Meyers at Saint Ignatius High School … 2022 OHSAA Division 1 Individual State Champion … All-Ohio First Team in both 2020 and 2022 … 2021 All-Ohio Second Team … three-time All-Northeast Ohio District First Team … two-time OHSAA Division 1 Team State Champion (2021, '22) … the Wildcats shot a two-day total of 591 in the 2021 state tournament to break the OHSAA Division 1 record by 15 strokes … 2020 OHSAA Division 1 Team State runner-up … won the 2021 AJGA at Knollwood Presented by Yoder Oil … holds the school record for single-season scoring average at 70.94 … qualifier for 2022 US Junior Amateur … plans study sports management or business … favorite professional golfer is Rory McIlroy … favorite course is Pinehurst 4 … son of Scott and Vicki Piesen.
Cole Starnes
Fishers, Ind.
Hamilton Southeastern High School
A four-time letterwinner for head coach David Young at Hamilton Southeastern … 2021 and '22 Indiana All-State selection … youngest men's golfer in school history to be named All-State following his sophomore season … helped HSE to a third-place finish at the 2022 ISHAA State Finals … played a scoring average of 73.69 in 2022 … placed second in the 2021 AJGA Randy Wise Junior … qualified and played in the 2022 US Amateur … 2021 Boys State Junior Champion … son of Nick and Casie Starnes … has one brother, Dane.
@IndianaMGolf
For all the latest on Indiana University men's golf, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMGolf on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
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