
Frank Bellino, Anthony De Schutter
Preview | Men's Golf begins title defense at MVC Championship
04/19/2025 | 7:31:00 | Men's Golf
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Southern Illinois men's golf team will head to Des Moines Iowa to defend their crown at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship on Sunday, April 20. SIU will play 18 holes each day.
"We have reached championship week and it's time for all the work and training we have been doing throughout the year to push forward," said Director of Golf, Justin Fetcho. "We aren't the favorites on paper, so we are hopefully going to come in with a little chip on our shoulder attitude this week."
The 2024-25 season will culminate in Des Moines Iowa when all MVC golf programs compete in this year's tournament. The competition will be held on Des Moines Country Club, a course that spans 7,267 yards and is a par-72 event.
The Salukis will send a five-man squad made up of Anthony De Schutter, Oliver Ulrich, Leon Heitz, Frank Bellino, and Lucas Lasley. Carsen Silliman will act as a sub.
"We've been preparing in challenging conditions and on tough golf courses all year," said Fetcho. "We've been trying to learn and grow during each time out. We know of all weeks; this week will be challenging and on a tough setup. We are excited to get out and compete in this kind of environment."
Head Coach Justin Fetcho will look to add to his already impressive trophy case, looking for his fourth MVC Title this weekend. Fetcho has two second place finishes, and one fifth place finish.
Southern is led by Anthony De Schutter, Oliver Ulrich, and Leon Heitz who were the only golfers to play all 30 rounds in the 2024-25 season.
De Schutter has been one of the top golfers in The Valley with an average of 71.33 strokes per 18 holes, He tallied 8 rounds in the 60s, with a low round of 65 (-6). His top finish came at the Hal Williams Collegiate with a score of 204 (-9), placing third.
Ulrich has put together a solid sophomore season and will look to finish the season strong. He averaged 73.83 strokes per 18 holes with a low round score of 69. (-2). His top finish came at the Purdue Fall Invitational with a score of 215 (+2) finishing tied for sixth place.
Heitz was a key member of the 2024 MVC Championship team and will look to return to form this weekend. He averaged 74.60 strokes per 18 holes, with a low round of 68 (-3). His top finish came at the Purdue Fall Invitational finishing tied for 18th with a score of 217 (+1).
"We have a talented group of young men, we have to be mentally strong this week," said Fetcho. "There are going to be a lot of things out of our control that we can't be focused on, we must focus on what we can control. We want to focus on our effort, body language, discipline, and holding ourselves accountable to each other as we are all going out there fighting for every single shot. If we can do those things, then I think we will be in a good spot at the end of the week,"
Tournament results can be seen here.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
For the latest on Southern Illinois Men's Golf, follow the team on X (@SIU_MGolf), Instagram (@SIU_MGolf) and like the team's official Facebook page (SalukiMGolf).
"We have reached championship week and it's time for all the work and training we have been doing throughout the year to push forward," said Director of Golf, Justin Fetcho. "We aren't the favorites on paper, so we are hopefully going to come in with a little chip on our shoulder attitude this week."
The 2024-25 season will culminate in Des Moines Iowa when all MVC golf programs compete in this year's tournament. The competition will be held on Des Moines Country Club, a course that spans 7,267 yards and is a par-72 event.
The Salukis will send a five-man squad made up of Anthony De Schutter, Oliver Ulrich, Leon Heitz, Frank Bellino, and Lucas Lasley. Carsen Silliman will act as a sub.
"We've been preparing in challenging conditions and on tough golf courses all year," said Fetcho. "We've been trying to learn and grow during each time out. We know of all weeks; this week will be challenging and on a tough setup. We are excited to get out and compete in this kind of environment."
Head Coach Justin Fetcho will look to add to his already impressive trophy case, looking for his fourth MVC Title this weekend. Fetcho has two second place finishes, and one fifth place finish.
Southern is led by Anthony De Schutter, Oliver Ulrich, and Leon Heitz who were the only golfers to play all 30 rounds in the 2024-25 season.
De Schutter has been one of the top golfers in The Valley with an average of 71.33 strokes per 18 holes, He tallied 8 rounds in the 60s, with a low round of 65 (-6). His top finish came at the Hal Williams Collegiate with a score of 204 (-9), placing third.
Ulrich has put together a solid sophomore season and will look to finish the season strong. He averaged 73.83 strokes per 18 holes with a low round score of 69. (-2). His top finish came at the Purdue Fall Invitational with a score of 215 (+2) finishing tied for sixth place.
Heitz was a key member of the 2024 MVC Championship team and will look to return to form this weekend. He averaged 74.60 strokes per 18 holes, with a low round of 68 (-3). His top finish came at the Purdue Fall Invitational finishing tied for 18th with a score of 217 (+1).
"We have a talented group of young men, we have to be mentally strong this week," said Fetcho. "There are going to be a lot of things out of our control that we can't be focused on, we must focus on what we can control. We want to focus on our effort, body language, discipline, and holding ourselves accountable to each other as we are all going out there fighting for every single shot. If we can do those things, then I think we will be in a good spot at the end of the week,"
Tournament results can be seen here.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
For the latest on Southern Illinois Men's Golf, follow the team on X (@SIU_MGolf), Instagram (@SIU_MGolf) and like the team's official Facebook page (SalukiMGolf).
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