SANDESTIN, Fla. - The sixth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University men's golf team closed its fall season with a splash Tuesday, Oct. 20, firing a three-over 287 at the Raven Golf Club at Sandestin to win the Golfweek October Classic. In a field that included multiple top-25 teams, the Titans saw three finish inside the top-15 as they took home the team title with a 54-hole total of 860.
The win marked the first of the season for the Titans, who have finished in top-five in each of their five fall tournaments. Additionally, it is the first time IWU has taken home the victory at Golfweek since the 2019-20 season. That year, the lineup of Rob Wuethrich, Skylar LeVine, Andrew Abel, Jimmy Morton, and Carl Christiansen topped the field by nine strokes at 837 behind rounds of 284, 275, and 278.
Sophomore Ben Gelven (St. Louis, Mo.-Mary Institute and Country Day School) wrapped up his impressive fall with the fourth straight top-10 finish. Gelven posted a one-over 72 to total a career-low 211 and tie for third-place. Junior Pablo Castro (Palatine, Ill.-Palatine) and sophomore Ryan Andrews (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville) followed in a tie for 11th (214). Castro carded the Titans' best round of the day, an even-par 71, while Andrews recorded a 72. Freshman Sam Uutala (Barrington, Ill.-Barrington) and sophomore Alex Rollman (Cincinnati, Ohio-Turpin) also closed strong, turning in one-over 72s. Uutala tied for 35th and Rollman grabbed a share of 80th as both fired their best rounds of the event.
Illinois Wesleyan used rounds of 295, 278, and 287 to leave Florida with the win with a three-day total of 860. No. 11 Whitman grabbed second (863) and 10th-ranked Oglethorpe snagged third (864). No. 20 Hampden-Sydney, aided by medalist Til Wagner (66-73-70=209), placed fourth at 867.
The Titans look ahead to a lengthy break before returning to action in March. A full spring schedule will be posted to iwusports.com in the coming weeks.
IWU Individual Results
T3. Ben Gelven 72-67-72=211
T11. Pablo Castro 73-70-71=214
T11. Ryan Andrews 74-68-72=214
T35. Sam Uutala 76-73-72=221
T80. Alex Rollman 82-78-72=232
Team Standings
1 Illinois Wesleyan 295-278-287=860
2 Whitman 291-286-286=863
3 Oglethorpe 291-284-289=864
4 Hampden-Sydney 287-290-290=867
T5 Huntingdon 304-278-290=872
T5 UW-Eau Claire 289-286-297=872
T5 LeTourneau 282-300-290=872
8 Trinity 300-284-293=877
9 Berry 299-295-293=887
10 St. John's (Minn.) 307-293-289=889
11 Ohio Northern 300-301-289=890
12 Rhodes 302-295-295=892
13 Bethel (Minn.) 299-296-298=893
14 Nebraska Wesleyan 300-297-297=894
15 UW-Stout 309-302-285=896
16 Wabash 306-294-304=904
17 Christopher Newport 316-299-290=905
18 Augustana 294-308-305=907
19 Grinnell 303-300-305=908
20 Millikin 312-303-297=912
21 Southwestern 310-298-305=913
22 Gustavus Adolphus 308-303-306=917
23 Rose-Hulman 303-314-312=929
24 MUW 326-309-310=945
25 Spalding 333-313-310=956
