Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Golf unveils four-man spring signing class
04/17/2018 | 8:40:00 | Men's Golf
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois men's golf team head coach Justin Fetcho announced the addition of four signees during the spring signing period — incoming freshmen Markus Wilhelmsen, Matthis Besard and Tom Cleaton, plus junior college transfer Sean Mullan.
Wilhelmsen is currently ranked as the No. 17 player in Norway, where he was one of only six junior players invited to compete in the European Team Championship. He posted a 73.32 scoring average during the past year and finished first on the 2017 Senior Srixon Tour. His low tournament round for the year was an 8-under par 64.
"Markus is a very talented player with a lot of potential," Fetcho said. "He has worked hard to become one of the best junior players in Norway. We are excited about his potential not only on the golf course, but in the classroom as he is an excellent student as well."
Besard is ranked No. 6 in Belgium and finished second on the Belgium Junior Rankings in 2017. Like Wilhelmsen, he was one of six junior players chosen to represent his county in the European Team Championship. His low tournament round for the year was a 5-under par 67, and his scoring average last year was 74.0 strokes.
"Matthis has established himself as one of the top junior players in Belgium," according to Fetcho. "His game has continued to get better each year and we expect that to be no different here at SIU. Matthis has played some of the best events in the world and his experience will help play a big part in his future here."
Both Cleaton and Mullan are natives of England. Cleaton ranked No. 43 among Under-21 players in England last year and had a 73.1 scoring average. He tied for eighth in the English Boys Championship (McEvoy Trophy), earned Warwickshire Men's County Champion of Champions honors, and was the Warwickshire Boys team captain.
"Tom has a bright future in front of him as he is talented both on the course and in the classroom," Fetcho said. "He has been a dominant player in his county and now we are starting to see him branch out and compete in some of the biggest tournaments in England, as evidenced by his Top 10 finish at the English Boys Championship last year. We look forward to seeing him continue to grow here at SIU."
A native of London, Mullan currently attends Eastern Arizona Community College where he is ranked as the No. 14 JUCO to watch by Golfstat and was NJCAA District I All First-Team as a freshman. He won individual titles at the Glendale Invite and EAC Invite this spring and posted an adjusted scoring average of 72.8 this season, according to Golfstat
"Sean brings some collegiate experience to our team as he is one of the highest ranked junior college players in the country," Fetcho said. "He has improved each year at his junior college and feel like his best golf is still in front of him. He also has done very well in the classroom so he is exactly what you look for in a student-athlete."
The Salukis are currently the second-highest ranked team in the Missouri Valley Conference at No. 121 in the nation, heading into next week's Missouri Valley Conference Championships, and Fetcho sees even brighter days ahead for a program that made its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016.
"We are very excited to add these four young men to our program," he said. "With their work ethic, passion and desire to get better, they will help push our program to new heights. I foresee all four of these young men making an immediate impact on our program."
Wilhelmsen is currently ranked as the No. 17 player in Norway, where he was one of only six junior players invited to compete in the European Team Championship. He posted a 73.32 scoring average during the past year and finished first on the 2017 Senior Srixon Tour. His low tournament round for the year was an 8-under par 64.
"Markus is a very talented player with a lot of potential," Fetcho said. "He has worked hard to become one of the best junior players in Norway. We are excited about his potential not only on the golf course, but in the classroom as he is an excellent student as well."
Besard is ranked No. 6 in Belgium and finished second on the Belgium Junior Rankings in 2017. Like Wilhelmsen, he was one of six junior players chosen to represent his county in the European Team Championship. His low tournament round for the year was a 5-under par 67, and his scoring average last year was 74.0 strokes.
"Matthis has established himself as one of the top junior players in Belgium," according to Fetcho. "His game has continued to get better each year and we expect that to be no different here at SIU. Matthis has played some of the best events in the world and his experience will help play a big part in his future here."
Both Cleaton and Mullan are natives of England. Cleaton ranked No. 43 among Under-21 players in England last year and had a 73.1 scoring average. He tied for eighth in the English Boys Championship (McEvoy Trophy), earned Warwickshire Men's County Champion of Champions honors, and was the Warwickshire Boys team captain.
"Tom has a bright future in front of him as he is talented both on the course and in the classroom," Fetcho said. "He has been a dominant player in his county and now we are starting to see him branch out and compete in some of the biggest tournaments in England, as evidenced by his Top 10 finish at the English Boys Championship last year. We look forward to seeing him continue to grow here at SIU."
A native of London, Mullan currently attends Eastern Arizona Community College where he is ranked as the No. 14 JUCO to watch by Golfstat and was NJCAA District I All First-Team as a freshman. He won individual titles at the Glendale Invite and EAC Invite this spring and posted an adjusted scoring average of 72.8 this season, according to Golfstat
"Sean brings some collegiate experience to our team as he is one of the highest ranked junior college players in the country," Fetcho said. "He has improved each year at his junior college and feel like his best golf is still in front of him. He also has done very well in the classroom so he is exactly what you look for in a student-athlete."
The Salukis are currently the second-highest ranked team in the Missouri Valley Conference at No. 121 in the nation, heading into next week's Missouri Valley Conference Championships, and Fetcho sees even brighter days ahead for a program that made its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016.
"We are very excited to add these four young men to our program," he said. "With their work ethic, passion and desire to get better, they will help push our program to new heights. I foresee all four of these young men making an immediate impact on our program."
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