January 16, 2020
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.— Western Illinois men’s golf student-athlete Kyle Irlbacker was named a Summit League Golfer to Watch, the league announced Thursday (Jan. 16).
“Kyle had a fantastic first semester,” Director of Golf Lia Biehl Lukkarinen said. “He has the birdie making potential to be one of the top players in our league. I anticipate he will finish his senior year strong.”
A total of nine student-athletes were selected
to the list based on nominations by each team’s head coach.
Irlbacker, a senior from Cary, Ill., played 14
rounds in the fall of 2019 with a team-best 72.79 average. His lowest round
this season was a 66 in the second round of the SIUE Derek Dolenc Invitational (Sept.
23-24). He notched two top-10 finishes this past fall, including one top-5
placing.
The Leathernecks were picked to finish eighth in
the Summit League with a total of 16 points. Western Illinois opens the 2020
spring slate in St. George, Utah at the Pizza Hut Pat Hicks Thunderbird
Invitational hosted by Southern Utah, Feb. 10-11.
2020 Summit League Golfers to Watch
Denver
Cal McCoy
North Dakota
Ryan Riihinen
North Dakota State
Andrew Israelson
Omaha
Witchayapat Sinsrang
Oral Roberts
Dustin Hasley
Purdue Fort Wayne
Callahan Elzey
South Dakota
Matt Tolan
South Dakota State
Jack Tanner
Western Illinois
Kyle Irlbacker
