Trailblazer Golf battles wind and cold in Spring season opener

ADAIRSVILLE, Ga. – The Vincennes University Golf team opened their 2024 Spring season earlier this week, heading down to Adairsville, Ga. to take part in the Battle at Barnsley at the Barnsley Resort.

The VU golf team faced some early season struggles, while also battling tough conditions of wind and cold on a tough golf course.

The Blazers closed out the 54-hole, two-day tournament Tuesday afternoon with a 12th place finish.

Vincennes was led on the first day by sophomore Preston Broce (Indianapolis, Ind.) who finished out the first day of the tournament with two six-over rounds of 78.

Broce looked to potentially make some moves on the leaderboard and possibly move up to the top 15 but unfortunately withdrew from the tournament in the final round Tuesday.

Sophomore Aaron Brink (Nashville, Ill.) was the lowest VU scorer on the tournament, shooting an 85 and an 81 in the first two rounds Monday, before coming back to shoot an 82 on Tuesday to finish in a tie for 52nd overall.

Freshman Alex Nealis (Olney, Ill.) got off to a great start to the tournament after a first round 82 but slid down the leaderboard with a second round 91 to end the first day.

Nealis would bounce back Tuesday to finish out the tournament with another round of 82, climbing up five spots on the leaderboard to finish 57th overall.

The next Trailblazer on the leaderboard was freshman Andy Clark, who was very consistent with a first round 91 and finishing out with an 88 in the second and third rounds to place 67th.

The VU tournament was rounded out by freshman Xavier Brown (Franklin, Ind.) who shot a 97 and 93 in the first two rounds Monday before shooting his best round of the tournament Tuesday, posting an 89.

The Trailblazers as a team finished 12th overall, while facing a field loaded with four-year programs, including host and NCAA Division II program Shorter University.

The Blazers and Hall of Fame Head Coach Dennis Chattin will look to bounce back and continue to improve in their next tournament at the 2024 Garn Championships, hosted at The Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Ky.

The tournament is set to begin Monday, March 25 and will run through Tuesday, March 26.

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

TEAM RESULTS

VU (12) – 336, 338, 341 – 1015

VINCENNES RESULTS

Aaron Brink (52) – 85, 81, 82 – 248

Alex Nealis (57) – 82, 91, 82 – 255

Andy Clark (67) – 91, 88, 88 – 267

Xavier Brown (68) – 97, 93, 89 – 279