East Peoria, Ill. - The Illinois Central College men's golf team will open their 2025-26 season on Friday, August 22nd as they tee up at the Highland 36 Invitational in Freeport with high expectations. 

The fall season will see the Cougars tested early and often as the schedule includes a return visit to the NJCAA Preview at the Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth Indiana, site of the 2026 NJCAA National Championship next spring.  The team will return to the University of Illinois Atkins Club in October to defend their M-WAC Conference Championship and also travel to Goose Pond Colony Resort in Scottsboro, Alabama in March to defend the Ron Marshall Invitational Championship, named for the former late ICC golf coach. 

Current ICC men's golf Coach, Sean Kennedy, returns for his 4^th season at the helm and shares his outlook on the upcoming season below.

A Season To Remember
Last year is history - but what a season it was as the 2024-25 Cougars were the NJCAA National Runners Up---finishing 2nd by just a single shot for the best finish in school history. They won nine tournament championships and boasted a season record of 141-14-1. Kennedy will need to replace starters from last year's team who graduated and will be wearing new team colors this fall in Peyton Woods (University of Illinois-Springfield), DJ Norman (Cedarville University), Quinn Cox (Bradley University), and Brock Taylor (Olivet Nazarene University). 

"I'm so proud of what last year's team accomplished and know that Peyton, DJ, Quinn, and Brock will lead their new teams to successful seasons," Kennedy said.

New Look Cougars Eager To Make Their Mark
The names on the lineup card have changed, but optimism remains high for this new-look Cougar squad.  

1st Team NJCAA All-American Trey Boecker returns for his sophomore season to lead the team. Boecker's stellar freshman season featured five tournament individual titles, a 4^th place individual NJCAA National ranking, a 3^rd place NJCAA National Championship finish, and fourteen Top 3 individual performances in 20 stroke play events. 

Kennedy praised Boecker saying "Trey worked hard to improve his athleticism and conditioning in the off-season. He had a phenomenal summer competing in strong amateur tournaments and we can't wait to watch what he accomplishes for us this season. I smile every time I see him put on that Cougar polo shirt."

Sophomores Brooks Cluver and Drake Kaufman also return to provide additional sophomore leadership for the squad.

Kennedy noted, "Drake's final round of 75 at the NJCAA National Championship was key to our final round charge last May.  Brooks carded three Top 10's last year and had a really good summer, qualifying for the Illinois State Amateur Championship. I'm confident the sophomores will lead this squad until the new players find their footing."

Four talented newcomers join the squad, which includes Kansas Wesleyan transfer Logan Smith (New Berlin HS)---and three freshmen in twins Alex and Andrew Kuykendall (Charleston HS) and local star Connor Watson (East Peoria HS).  

"The four new players will make an immediate impact for us.  Logan gained valuable experience last year in Kansas and is off to a strong start in practice.  Andrew and Alex had stellar prep careers leading their high school team to multiple IHSA state appearances.  And Connor Watson is the two-time Peoria Journal Star Player of the Year and two-time Prep Tour Player of the Year.  He's had a phenomenal start this fall and is already pushing Trey. My expectations for Connor grow every time I watch him play," Coach Kennedy observed.

Time To Get On The Bus
With so much talent on the roster, Kennedy has challenged the group early by saying, "We're anxious and ready to start the season. We've already played nine qualifying rounds at all of our championship partner golf courses and country clubs in the Peoria area. The competition will be formidable, since NJCAA Region 24 was the best men's golf region in the country last year featuring the #2, #6, & #8 nationally ranked teams."

"Our schedule is demanding, and we'll continually be tested by playing at championship venues in all sorts of fall and spring weather conditions," he said. We're mindful of last year's accomplishments, but the players are growing weary of listening to me chirp and preach about last year. They're anxious to start the season on Friday and make their own mark."