Men’s Golf Rolls to 13th Straight CCIW Title

Spitzer claims medalist honors

5/3/2025 4:47:00 PM

PEORIA, Ill. - The fifth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University men's golf team secured its spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament Saturday, May 3, as the Titans completed a wire-to-wire lead at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championship held at WeaverRidge Golf Club.

Junior Michael Spitzer (Hinsdale, Ill.-Hinsdale Central) became the 19th Titan all-time to take home medalist honors at the conference championship. It marks the fourth straight season a Titan has topped the field as Bobby Beaubien (2024), Quinn Clifford (2023), and Jimmy Morton (2022) did so in each of the past three seasons. Spitzer fired a final round score of 70, shooting two-under, to finish eight-under par for the three-day event at 208. It is the second tournament win of Spitzer's career.

Senior Griffin Pohl (Western Springs, Ill.-Lyons Township), who was recognized as the CCIW Men's Golfer of the Year following the tournament for his sensational play all season long, went on to finish second. Pohl matched Spitzer at two-under on the day and completed the championship with a score of 209, seven-under par.

Senior Quinn Clifford (Chicago, Ill.-Brother Rice) grabbed fifth-place at 214, closing out the 54-hole event with a one-over 73. Junior Juney Bai (Mokena, Ill.-Lincoln-Way Central) tied for seventh and junior Aidan Healy (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln-Way West) tied for ninth as all five Titans garnered All-CCIW status. Bai finished with a total of 218, with Healy tallying a 219.

The Green and White bested the field from start to finish behind rounds of 280, 280, and 287 to tie the conference championship scoring record set by IWU a season ago. Illinois Wesleyan finished 17-under as a team, carding a 54-hole score of 847. Millikin notched a second-place finish (288-298-296=882), while Wheaton held on for third-place (297-296-299=892).

Additionally, for the second straight season the Titans saw Bai and Clifford take home the Elite 26 Award, presented to the all-conference performer with the highest grade point average. Freshman Pablo Castro was named IWU's recipient of the CCIW RESPECT Award, while Jim Ott garnered CCIW Coach of the Year honors for the 12th time in his career.

Illinois Wesleyan earns the CCIW's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Championship and looks ahead to the national tournament May 20-23 in Penfield, N.Y.

IWU Individual Results
1. Michael Spitzer 73-65-60=208
2. Griffin Pohl 67-72-70=209
5. Quinn Clifford 69-72-73=214
t7. Juney Bai 71-72-75=218
t9. Aidan Haly 74-71-74=219

Team Standings
1. Illinois Wesleyan 280-280-287=847
2. Millikin 288-298-296=882
3. Wheaton 297-296-299=892
4. Carthage 308-295-291=894
5. North Central 300-302-297=899
6. Augustana 304-298-298=900
7. North Park 306-299-312=917
8. Carroll 309-308-307=924
9. Elmhurst 314-314-297=925

CCIW Student-Athlete of the Year
Griffin Pohl, Illinois Wesleyan

CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year
Felix Pettersson, North Park

CCIW Coach of the Year
Jim Ott, Illinois Wesleyan

CCIW Elite 26 Award Winners
Juney Bai, Illinois Wesleyan
Quinn Clifford, Illinois Wesleyan

All-CCIW Honorees
Sam Evenson, Augustana
Connor Angelstad, Carthage
Juney Bai, Illinois Wesleyan
Quinn Clifford, Illinois Wesleyan
Aiden Healy, Illinois Wesleyan
Griffin Pohl, Illinois Wesleyan
Michael Spitzer, Illinois Wesleyan
Mateo Oneglia, Millikin
Mitchell Mazzei, North Central
Alexander Remahl, North Park
Jonah Swartz, Wheaton

CCIW RESPECT Award Recipients
Adam Soczko, Augustana
Grant Naumann, Carroll
James Tyrell, Carthage
Dino DiGrazia, Elmhurst
Pablo Castro, Illinois Wesleyan
Jack Bollinger, Millikin
Carter Stephenson, North Central
Tommy Taylor, North Park
Adam Quinlivan, Wheaton

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