Season Preview: 2021-22 Men’s Golf

MILLIGAN UNIVERSITY, Tenn. (September 8, 2021) – The Milligan University men's golf team looks to climb the ranks of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) in the 2021-22 season.

Visual Preview | Coach Tony Wallingford Preseason Interview

The Buffs began the 2021-22 season with an impressive showing at the Bob Dibble Match Play Classic. They took home the team title after earning 6.5 points in seven matches. 

2020-21 Season Review: The Milligan men's golf team finished the 2020-21 season ranked No. 64 among the 159 teams that competed last year.

The Buffs' regular season was highlighted by a dominant showing at the Mountain Empire Intercollegiate at the Elizabethton Golf Course. Milligan finished first among seven schools and set season bests for 36 holes (599) and 18 holes with a 290 score on the second day. Caleb Milligan took medalist honors at an even 144 over 36 holes after shooting a 68 on day two, the Buffs' lowest single round score since 2017.

The Buffs finished seventh at the AAC Fall Championships and AAC NAIA Direct Qualifier, which also served as the AAC's spring championship event.

"Last year's men's team had some outstanding tournament rounds, competitive tourney finishes, and individual performances," said 30-year head coach Tony Wallingford. "But it was the lack of consistency that haunted us."

Team Captains: Dane Rheinecker and Jonathan Liggett

Key Returners: Milligan returns four golfers who appeared in at least 13 of the Buffs' 17 rounds in 2021-22.

"We played in high quality tournaments last year exposing our players to top level competition," said Wallingford. "That competition motivated our players to work hard in the off season and improve. I am confident we will reap the benefits of that experience this year."

Graduate student Dane Rheinecker played all 17 rounds for the Buffs last year and logged a team-best average score of 76.82. He was Milligan's top overall finisher at both the AAC Fall and Spring Championships, finishing tied for 22nd in the fall and tied for 15th in the spring.

Rheinecker shot a season-best 69 in round two of the Sea Island Intercollegiate and secured his top individual finish (14th) of the year with a three-round score of 222 (77-69-76).

Senior Jonathan Liggett played all 17 rounds for the Buffs' last year and recorded an average score of 78.47. He shot 73 in the opener at the East Tennessee Collegiate to finished tied for fifth.

Liggett's season best round came on the second day of the Mountain Empire Intercollegiate where he logged a three-under 69 to finish fourth (79-69) in a 54-man field. At the Fall AAC Championships, he was Milligan's second-best individual finisher as he tied for 33rd with rounds of 76, 78 and 80.

Junior Samuel Prater tied for the runner-up spot at the Mountain Empire Intercollegiate with a 76-71 showing. His average score over 13 rounds was 78.54 last year and he finished tied for 30th at the 2021 Spring AAC Championships.

Sophomore Ty Beasley played 14 of a possible 17 rounds as a freshman for the Buffs. He shot 147 (76-71) to finish tied for second at the Mountain Empire Intercollegiate and finished tied for 12th at the East Tennessee Collegiate (75). Beasley appeared in both AAC fall and spring championships, finishing 54th and 40th, respectively.

Senior Reece Walker appeared in three tournaments and played five rounds last year. He tied for ninth at the Mountain Empire Intercollegiate with a 151 (76-75). He opened the season with a 78 at the East Tennessee Collegiate.

Senior Brandon Hammond played eight rounds in five tournaments in 2020-21. He took 16th at the Mountain Empire Intercollegiate (76-78) and 17th at the East Tennessee Collegiate (77).

Sophomore Carter Counts snagged a fourth place finish at the Tusculum Invitational thanks toa season-best 69 in the second round. He added top 25 finishes at the East Tennessee Collegiate and Mountain Empire Intercollegiate. Counts' average score over eight rounds last year was 78.88.

Junior Nick Brock shot a season-best 79 at the East Tennessee Collegiate last fall.

Newcomers: Milligan men's golf adds a trio of freshmen to the roster for 2021-22.

Name Year Major Hometown
Seth Bible Freshman Humanities Telford, TN
Alvaro Huidobro Freshman Engineering/Economics Gijon, Spain
Josh Owens Freshman Business Administration Hampton, TN

Looking at the Schedule: The Buffs' 2021-22 fall schedule opened with an exhibition event, the Bob Dibble Match Play Classic, hosted by Tusculum Sept. 4-6.

Milligan returns to stroke play with the Fincastle Collegiate Sept. 13-14. The Buffs host the East Tennessee Collegiate at the Johnson City Country Club Sept. 27-28 before hitting the Links at Kahite Collegiate on Oct. 9-10.

The Buffs play the AAC Fall Championship Preview at the Barnsley Resort Oct. 18-19.

"We always play a highly competitive schedule at quality venues, and this fall is no exception," said Wallingford. "Our goal is to be playing our best when we get to the conference preview in late October."

Last Word: "We have high expectations for this group," said Wallingford. "We have a nice blend of experienced upper classmen and young talented players. They are a tight group, very focused. I am pulling for them to make it back to the top of our conference."