DWU Golf Opens Season Thursday at Mount Marty

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men's and women's golf teams tee off for the first time in 2016-17 at the Mount Marty Invite at Fox Run Golf Course and Hillcrest Country Club Friday and Saturday in Yankton, S.D.

The Dakota Wesleyan University men's golf team returns a number of familiar faces for the 2016-17 season.  Seniors Elliott Banks (East Sussex, England), Gabe Dirksen (Lead, S.D.), Thomas Hogg (Aberdeen, S.D.) and Cal Wiese (Fedora, S.D.) will be counted on to put the Tigers on top of the leaderboard this season, while junior Russell Pick (Kimball, S.D.) and newcomer Connor Preston (Aberdeen, S.D.) will also fight for time in the DWU lineup. Senior transfer Coleman Caldwell (Chamberlain, S.D.) brings plenty of talent to the Tigers and has the ability to make waves in the GPAC this season.

Last season, Banks carded a 76 at Midland Invite and finished in the top five at the GPAC Qualifier No. 1. Hogg was named to the GPAC All-Conference Second Team for the second time in his career last season. The senior finished the season in fourth place on the overall leaderboard in the GPAC. Wiese finished in a tie for fifth place at the William Penn Classic with a two-round total of 147 and had a top-five finish at the Wild West Invite last year.

Pick begins his junior year after gaining valuable experience in his first two years at DWU. Last season Pick led the Tiger men at the Midland Invite and had a top-five finish at the Wild West Invite, where the Tigers set a new program 18-hole record, combining to shoot a 277.

Preston finished his high school career with five-varsity letters, was named to the All-State and All-Conference Team twice, while playing on the AJGA, SDGA and MN players' tour.

"I am very excited about the men's team this season," Gomez said. "We are loaded from top to bottom behind the strength of seven seniors."