Pella, Iowa -- One week after winning the Benedictine Eagle Invite, the Thunder men's golf team was back on the links across state lines, as Wheaton traveled to Iowa for the Central College Fall Classic on Monday and Tuesday. The Thunder fielded two teams in the 13-squad competition, and Wheaton's 'A' lineup earned a third-place finish upon the completion of the classic's two rounds. Jackson Swartz, participating for the Thunder 'B' group, logged the best score of the tournament for Wheaton and secured a Top 10 standing on the individual leaderboard in the final event of the fall schedule.

Augustana College also sent two teams to this week's competition, and the Vikings claimed the top spots in the standings, as Augie's 'A' squad won the tournament with a two-day mark of 591 (+15) and its 'B' lineup was the runner-up on a cumulative score of 612. The Wheaton 'A' contingent logged daily tallies of 312 and 308 to finish third with a 620 total, entering the clubhouse three shots ahead of Wartburg College in fourth place. The middle of the standings featured a logjam, as Wartburg, Loras, Buena Vista, and the hosting Central 'A' team were all separated by just two strokes.

The Thunder's 'B' lineup came in 12th place with a two-round total of 660 but improved its combined Monday showing by 12 strokes this afternoon.

Swartz tied for seventh overall on the 75-player leaderboard thanks to round totals of 74 (+2) yesterday and 76 (+4) today that gave him a combined tally of 150 (+6) for the week. The junior finished the competition just two shots out of the top five, which consisted of four Augustana competitors. Senior Baylor Brogan (pictured right) also earned a Top 15 placement via a 77 first-round score and a 78 second-day mark that saw him tie for 14th in the solo standings on a 155 total. 

The next three finishers for Wheaton were just one shot apart from each other in the final standings. Wyatt Brown tallied a two-day mark of 156 (79, 77) to tie for 21st place, while Micah Chiong and Luke Pringle both carded tournament totals of 157 to finish 25th. The former registered a 79 in yesterday's opening round and a 78 on Tuesday, while the latter shot a 77 on Monday and an even 80 this morning. Freddie Chan wrapped up the event only two strokes behind Chiong and Pringle having earned an 84 score in the opening round before improving this effort by nine shots on the second 18 to tie for 30th with a 159 total.

Aidan Quinlivan bettered his first round by three strokes, shooting an 82 yesterday and a 79 on Tuesday to tie for 40th place with a 161 tournament tally. Rookie Noah Levengood also saw a second-day improvement, as he lowered his opening 18 mark of 86 to an 80 in today's round to finish with a 166 for the competition. Tyler Wolterstorff carded a 94 in yesterday's first round and an 89 this afternoon to register a two-day total of 183.

After an impressive and successful fall season that yielded two tournament wins, four Top 3 team finishes, six individual first-place finishes, and multiple CCIW Golfer of the Week recognitions, the Wheaton squad heads into its winter break and will return to competitive action in the spring of 2027.