The Wheeling University Men's Golf team are set to get underway for the penultimate event of the 2025/26 regular season this week, as they travel across to Indiana, Pennsylvania, for the I.U.P. Cecil C. Spadafora Invitational. With the NCAA regional rankings just released, the Cardinals officially sit 12th in the region, and a good tournament this week will go a long way in alleviating the stress that comes along with making NCAA Regionals in May.
Just last week the Cardinals hosted the MEC Spring Classic, placing 5th out of 14 teams. Although not a win at their home course like they were hoping, the Cardinals can come away satisfied with the weeks work, having beat #2 in the region Pitt-Johnstown, along with other close regional opposition like Fairmont State and West Liberty.
Top Wheeling performers at the MEC Spring Classic were Sophomore Zak Collins and graduate student Sean Dobson. With Collins placing in a tie for 10th with scores of 71, 73, he earned himself 3rd in the MEC yearly standings and an All-MEC First Team honour, following his top 5 finish at the MEC Championships in the fall. Dobson finished with scores of 72, 70, in the MEC Spring Classic to finish in a tie for 7th, however his 14th place finish in the MEC Championships in the fall meant he fell just 1 shot shy of a first team honour, with the Englishman picking up an All-MEC Second Team honour.
Joining Collins and Dobson with Conference honours was graduate student Troy Loughry. Loughry finished in 21st place in the Spring Championship, firing rounds of 74 and 72 for a 4-over total. This was enough for an All-MEC Honorable Mention honour, and sets a program record with 3 Cardinals being honoured by the conference for the first time in history. This is a testament to the hard work of new head coach Thadd Obecny, who has instantly made his mark on the Wheeling Golf program since his arrival last fall.
Freshman Luke Wennberg and Sophomore Federico Cobos Kallman rounded out the starting 5 for Wheeling in the MEC Spring Classic. Cobos Kallman shot rounds of 76, 77, whilst Wennberg fired a 78 followed by 73 for 55th and 42nd respectively.
The final 2 tournaments of the regular season will see the Cardinals go up against all of their atlantic regional opposition and, with some strong results already banked in the spring, the Cardinals will be eager to get 1up on the region before they make their bid for nationals in May.
Tee times for the Cecil C. Spadafora IUP invitational this week will start at 11am, with the tournament running Tuesday, Wednesday, and like scoring available here.
