NAPERVILLE — The spring season for the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) men’s golf programs continued over the past week, with the conference’s nine member institutions competing in regional events under varying conditions. 
 
The week included a large-field tournament in Bloomington and a single-round event in West Dundee, producing an individual medalist, a team title on home turf and another team win on the road. Early
 
Titan Territory: A Masterclass in Home Cooking
Illinois Wesleyan turned in the top team performance at the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational, held last Friday and Saturday, claiming first place in a 41-team field with a two-round total of 578 (281-297). The Titans finished 14 strokes ahead of runner-up Nebraska Wesleyan after opening the event with a seven-under-par team round. 
 
Senior Juney Bai placed 11th with rounds of 70 and 75 for a 145 total, while senior Michael Spitzer tied for 14th with a 146 after posting a 76 in the second round. Illinois Wesleyan’s “C” team also placed eighth overall at 599, led by Kasey May’s 148 and Michael O’Keefe’s 149.
 
The Castro Connection: A First for the Sophomore
IWU sophomore Pablo Castro claimed a share of medalist honors at the invitational, earning the first tournament victory of his collegiate career. Competing in a 255-player field, Castro opened with a four-under-par 68 at Ironwood Golf Course and followed with a one-over-par 72 at Weibring Golf Club to finish at three-under-par 140. 
 
The result marked his second straight top-three finish of the spring and his third selection as CCIW Men’s Golf Student-Athlete of the Week during the 2025-26 season.
 
Bluejay Bravado: Soaring Through the Springs
Elmhurst recorded a team victory Monday at the Judson Spring Invitational in West Dundee, where the Bluejays posted a total of 19-over-par to win the event by four strokes over host Judson. Bo Smith led the effort by shooting a 74 to tie for fourth place individually. Evan Daniels followed with a 75 to place 10th, while William Davis carded a 76 to tie for 12th. 
 
Earlier in the week, Elmhurst tied for 32nd at the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational with a score of 635, led again by Smith, who finished with a 155.
 
The New Guard: Freshmen Make Their Mark
Several freshmen contributed notable performances during the week. Wheaton freshman Micah Chiong tied for fourth place at the Judson Spring Invitational after carding a 74, helping lead the Thunder to a fourth-place finish in the 22-team field. Chiong also competed at the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational, where he opened with a 76. 
 
North Central freshman Rylan Lother paced the Cardinals in the final round at Illinois Wesleyan with a 78 and finished 123rd overall. Carthage freshman Conor Fayard also tied for fourth place at Judson with a 74 while competing for the Firebirds’ “C” team.
 
Against the Elements: Resilience on the Green
Course conditions were a factor throughout the weekend, especially during the second round of the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational. Rain, wind and temperatures below 40 degrees created difficult scoring conditions at Weibring Golf Club after significant rainfall left standing water on portions of the course. 
 
Millikin junior Jake Krstulovich posted a 74 in the second round and finished 16th overall with a 146 total. Carthage junior Logan Westman also played well in the same conditions, carding a 75 in the final round and finishing tied for 23rd at 148.
 
Mid-Table Matchups: Navigating a Loaded Field
The size and quality of the field at the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational also provided a useful measuring point across the conference. Augustana finished 17th with a team score of 608, led by Calvin Short, who tied for seventh after rounds that produced a 144 total. 
 
Millikin entered two teams, with the “B” team finishing 18th at 609 and the “A” team placing 19th at 610. Wheaton took 27th at 626 behind junior Wyatt Brown, who tied for 19th individually at 147. North Park tied for 30th with a 631, North Central placed 34th at 636, and Carroll finished 40th at 659, led by Widar Burman Voss, who tied for 78th with a 153.
 
The Road to Rockford: Upcoming April Action
Conference teams are scheduled to spread across several events over the next week. On Thursday, Carroll, Carthage, Elmhurst and North Park are set to compete at the Firebird Spring Invite in Racine, Wis., while Millikin will send two junior varsity squads to the McNaughton Classic in Springfield. 
 
North Central and Wheaton are scheduled to travel to Allendale, Mich. on Friday for the Bob Ebels Invitational hosted by Hope. Augustana will compete in the two-day Monmouth College event beginning Saturday, and Illinois Wesleyan is slated to play in the Cochran Collegiate in Memphis next Monday. 
 
Attention will then shift to Rockford for the CCIW Preview next Thursday at Aldeen Golf Club, the site of the conference championships later this month.