Feature Story

April 24, 2014 | By Ohio Wesleyan University

A Look Back

Chad Poling ’04. (Photo by Matt Emmons)

This spring marks the 10-year anniversary of one of the most impressive seasons in Ohio Wesleyan men’s golf history.

Chad Poling ’04 owned the spring 2004 men’s golf season, winning medalist honors in the final six tournaments of the season, including the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament and the NCAA Division III championship.

After a trip to California and a weekend trip to Jekyll Island, Ga. to open the season, the Bishops made their first Ohio appearance of the spring at the Muskingum Invitational. Poling carded a 69-68-137 to break the school record for lowest 36-hole score by an astounding three shots.

Two weeks later at the Denison Invitational, Poling won a playoff for medalist honors after finishing with a 145, helping the Bishops win the team title.

The following week, Poling came back with a 146 to win medalist honors at the Wooster Invitational.
At Ohio Wesleyan’s Strimer Memorial Invitational, Poling shared medalist honors with a 149.

Poling won medalist honors at the NCAC tournament with a 147, winning both the Bob Nye Award as the tournament medalist and the Dick Gordin Award as the NCAC Player of the Year as voted upon by the conference coaches.

The Bishops then returned to California to play in the NCAA Division III championship, and Poling again was unstoppable. He fired an opening-round 66, not only tying the NCAA Division III tournament record for lowest round under par (-6), but breaking the school record of 67 accomplished five times previously.

Poling went on to finish with a 282, setting an NCAA Division III tournament record for lowest score under par (-6), in becoming Ohio Wesleyan’s first national champion in golf. Poling’s 282 also broke the school record for a 72-hole total by an amazing eight shots. He was a first-team All-America selection.