ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Illinois College men's golf team has been picked to finish fifth in the 2026 SLIAC Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches.
The Blueboys tied with Spalding for fifth place with 88 points in the poll. Lake Forest earned the top spot with 134 points and four first-place votes, followed by MUW (126) and Lyon (125). Webster came in fourth with 102 points.
Head coach Jay Rowell's squad is coming off a fourth-place finish at the 2025 SLIAC Championship and returns two of its top performers in seniors Myles Kampwerth and Teddy Walbaum.
Kampwerth led IC during the fall season with a 76.13 scoring average over eight rounds. He carded a low round of 70 (-2) at the Highland Championship and recorded multiple top-five finishes during the fall. Walbaum followed closely with a 76.88 average in eight rounds, highlighted by a 71 in the second round of the Highland Championship.
As a team, the Blueboys showed their scoring potential early in the year. IC fired a season-best 294 (+6) in the second round of the Highland Championship and added a 306 at the Clash at the Creek, where the team finished fourth overall. IC competed in five fall events and posted a 311.88 team scoring average.
Rowell is also excited about newcomer Drake Bartos, who competed in all five fall events and gained valuable experience in the lineup. With the loss of Jarrett James, the Blueboys will lean on their senior leadership while continuing to develop a young, competitive group.
SLIAC Men's Golf Preseason Coaches' Poll Results
#1 Lake Forest - 134 (4)
#2 MUW - 126 (5)
#3 Lyon - 125 (4)
#4 Webster - 102
#5 Spalding - 88
#5 Illinois - 88
#7 Knox - 81
#7 Grinnell - 81
#9 Monmouth - 51
#10 Blackburn - 43
#11 Westminster - 39
#12 Greenville - 32
#13 Eureka - 24
Up Next
The Blueboys open their spring schedule March 18–19 at the Cougar Clash, a two-day tournament hosted at Weaver Ridge Golf Course.
