Men's Golf: NAIA National Championships Preview
RICHMOND, Ind. - The Indiana University East men's golf team will take part in the NAIA National Championships for the first time as the Red Wolves head to Illinois for the four-day event at TPC Deere Run in Silvis on March 12-15.
The Red Wolves won the River States Conference championship to punch their ticket to the national tournament on April 28.
Tee times for the first two rounds have been set with IU East playing with golfers from a pair of at-large teams as No. 18 Point University (Ga.) and No. 24 Grand View University (Iowa) both finished second in their respective conferences.
Tuesday's action begins for IU East in the afternoon session on hole No. 1. Nick Brubaker (1:50 p.m., IU East time) will get things underway for the Red Wolves followed by Dare Bowles (2 p.m.), Landon True (2:10 p.m.), Noah Mulford (2:20 p.m.) and Sam Firebaugh (2:30 p.m.) with Braden Tedder serving as the alternate.
On Wednesday, the Red Wolves are in the morning session that starts on No. 10 with Brubaker (9:10 a.m.). Next up is Bowles (9:20 a.m.), True (9:30 a.m.), Mulford (9:40 a.m.) and Firebaugh (9:50 a.m.).
Point is a member of the Southern States Athletic Conference, while Grand View is in the Heart of America Conference.
Overall, there are 29 teams in the field that also features 11 individuals including Oakland City University's Jose Vidal who earned his spot as the RSC medalist. There will be a cut after the first two days with the remaining teams and individuals advancing to the final two rounds.
FOLLOW THE TOURNAMENT
TPC Deere Run is located at 3100 Heather Knoll, Silvis, IL 61282, which is in the Central time zone.
Live stats will be available on Clippd. Live video is also available from the NAIA.
YOU OUGHT TO KNOW
* Mulford was named RSC Newcomer of the Year for 2026, while he and True were tied for fourth individually as they both earned a spot on the All-RSC First Team.
* Firebaugh finished seventh at the RSC Championships to make the All-RSC Second Team.
* IU East's Jeff Williams named the 2026 RSC Coach of the Year.
* Prior to IU East's first appearance as a team this year, Joey Smart (85th in 2014) and Tyler Pearson (94th in 2019) represented the Red Wolves as individuals in the tournament.
* The IU East women's golf team played on this course during the 2023 and 2024 national championships.