Men’s Golf: 2023-2024 Season Review

Northwestern men’s golf enjoyed a season marked by notable progress and success. The team concluded the year ranked 33rd, propelled by an impressive Big Ten Championship victory. Below is a reflection on the remarkable season the team had.

To start the season, the ‘Cats posted a fifth-place finish at the Gopher Invitational. Junior Cameron Adam and sophomore Daniel Svärd led the way for NU, tying for 15th individually.

Northwestern hosted its next tournament, the Windon Memorial Classic at Sunset Ridge Golf Course, finishing in sixth place. Sophomore Ethan Tseng tied for fourth, Adam secured ninth, and NU was rounding into form.

A week later, the ‘Cats competed in the Fighting Irish Classic. Northwestern had a terrific second-place finish and was one of three teams under par in the 14-team field. Tseng played phenomenal golf, highlighted by an 8-under final round, and won the event by one stroke over Caleb Surratt. Surratt, previously one of the top amateurs in the world, has since turned professional and is competing on the LIV Golf tour. Svärd also continued his hot start to the season with a solo fourth-place finish.

After a disappointing 13th-place finish at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate, NU rebounded at the Cal Poly Invitational. The team tied for second after an exceptional 13-under final round as a team. Svärd and Adam both tied for sixth while Tseng finished in 15th. The invitational concluded the team’s five-tournament fall season, giving them some time to regroup and improve as they prepared for the bulk of the season ahead.

When the season resumed, NU participated in two match-play events during the winter, losing to South Florida but securing a victory against Michigan State. The ‘Cats followed that up with a disappointing 17th-place finish at The Prestige at PGA West. Despite the setback, Northwestern went on a rebounding trajectory for the remainder of the season.

The team’s next tournament was the Wake Forest Invitational at Pinehurst No. 2, featuring a strong field headlined by future national champions Auburn. Pinehurst No. 2, one of the country’s premier and most challenging golf courses, is set to host this year’s U.S. Open next week. NU secured a respectable sixth-place finish, with Adam leading the individuals, tying for 13th place.

Northwestern carried the momentum from their strong finish and translated it into back-to-back third-place finishes at both the Duck Invitational and the Lewis Chitengwa Memorial. The invitational, held at the challenging Eugene Country Club in Oregon, saw only one team and six individuals finish under par. Svärd was among this select group, continuing his great play with a tie for third at 2-under. At the Lewis Chitengwa Memorial, the ‘Cats gradually improved throughout the three days, shooting 3-over, 1-under and 1-under. Individually, Tseng led the way with a tie for third at 7-under. NU entered the final portion of its season playing fabulous golf.

Following a solid fourth-place finish at the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate, the ‘Cats began postseason play at the Big Ten Men’s Golf Championships. The tournament was one of the highlights of the season, with NU taking home a dominant win. It was Northwestern’s first conference championship since 2006, and they won by 15 shots over second-place Illinois. The ‘Cats began with a fantastic team round of even-par: the best round that any team shot during the week. They concluded with 14-over and 9-over rounds at the challenging Scioto Country Club. Svärd won his second consecutive individual Big Ten Championship title, and four NU players finished in the top 10.

NU closed its season with a 12th-place finish at the Chapel Hill Regional, failing to advance to the NCAA Championships. Despite not achieving the finish they were looking for, the team still had a terrific and memorable year.

Looking forward to next season, the ‘Cats will be returning the majority of their core players. Junior Cameron Adam will return for his senior season, while sophomores Daniel Svärd and Ethan Tseng will enter their third year as collegiate golfers. All three players had phenomenal years: Adam placed in the top-15 seven times, Svärd secured five top-6 finishes (including a win), and Tseng achieved four top-8 finishes, also with a win. These three players have become NU’s “Big Three” and will be key contributors throughout the 2024-2025 season.

Regarding the departing players, graduate student James Imai will be out of eligibility, and it remains to be seen if senior Chris Zhang will return for a fifth season. Throughout his five years in Evanston, Imai became a staple for NU golf. This season, he achieved three top-15 finishes, including a third-place result at the Big Ten Championships. Zhang, a former runner-up at the 2019 Virginia State Amateur, competed in five events this season, securing two top-5 finishes. If he returns next season, Zhang will vie for a spot in the lineup.

Other important returning players include first-year Niall Shiels-Donegan and sophomore Akshay Anand, who rotated into the fifth spot in the lineup throughout the year. Shiels-Donegan and Anand both had three top-25 finishes during the season. Anand’s standout performance came at the Prestige at PGA West, clinching second place among 61 players. The two will be key contributors to NU next season.

In terms of recruiting, the ‘Cats will welcome Mark Gazi for next season. The Ireland native had two top-3 finishes in 2022 Irish junior events, a third-place finish in the 2023 Irish Boys Close Championship, and a seventh-place result at the 2024 Irish Boys Amateur Open Championship. Gazi will aim to compete for a spot in Northwestern’s lineup next season.

With a strong core returning and promising new talent joining the team, Northwestern men’s golf looks poised for another exciting and successful season in 2024-2025. The foundation laid this year sets the stage for even greater achievements in the future.