The standard for Elon University men’s golf hasn’t changed. After a senior-led squad captured the team’s first Coastal Athletic Association title and advanced to NCAA play last season, the Phoenix enter spring of 2026 younger but no less ambitious. 

Head coach Don Hill said he believes the foundation is already in place.

“We’re excited to get going,” Hill said. “Our expectation is to keep climbing. If we do the right things, we’ll have a chance in April to hoist another trophy.”

The championship mindset remains constant in the program. Elon’s ultimate goal is clear: win the CAA, return to regionals and push deeper into NCAA play — something they got a taste of last year.

But the path to April hasn’t been smooth.

Weather disruptions forced the Phoenix to miss their first spring event, leaving them, as junior Jack Wieler put it, “behind the eight ball a little bit.” 

Still, both coach and player see opportunity in the adversity.

“We’ll play ourselves into form as the spring rolls out,” Hill said. “They’re hyper excited about competing.”

Wieler echoed that confidence.

“I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people with how well we play,” Wieler said. “We have just as much, if not more, talent than last year.”

A new core emerging

While last season’s team leaned heavily on veteran leadership, this year’s lineup features several freshmen who made an immediate impact in the fall.

Freshman William Carr has stood out for his advanced understanding of course management. Hill describes him as “unusually” polished for his age — a player who knows when to attack a flag and when to play safely to the fat side of the green. As Carr continues to grow physically, his mental edge has already proven to be a separator.

“I think some of that was that he wasn’t the longest golfer early on in his junior golf career,” Hill said. “He had to find ways to be competitive against guys hitting at 50 yards past him. Now he’s starting to catch up, and he still understands how to dissect a golf course.”

Meanwhile, freshman Drew Yeagley brings a different dynamic. Physically gifted and powerful off the tee, Yeagley pairs length with a steady temperament. Hill notes that Yeagley’s attitude rarely fluctuates, whether he’s four-under or four-over.

It’s a trait that translates well in tournament settings.

“Because of his attitude and how strong he is, he can do things that other guys can’t,” Hill said. “Not just on our team, but in all of college golf.” 

The two young players have very different ways of playing the game. Both are cashing in. 

That comfort is helped by familiarity. Many of Elon’s freshmen grew up competing against or alongside the upperclassmen in junior events across North Carolina, knowing each other since they were “pea-heads,” as Wieler said. It has created a natural chemistry before they even arrived on campus.

The Jack Wieler effect

At the center of it all is Wieler, one of the most talented players in the program’s recent history.

“The things he can do with the golf ball, whether it’s shot shapes, clubhead speed, ball speed, it’s remarkable,” Hill said. 

A three-time U.S. Amateur qualifier, Wieler’s strength starts off the tee, similar to Yeagley. His ability to drive the ball long and straight consistently puts him in constant scoring position.

Once he gets there, it’s all down to the green. 

“As long as I get that putter going, I feel like I’m in a spot where I can win any week,” Wieler said.

Hill praises more than just Wieler’s physical tools. He points to the junior’s ability to compartmentalize, flushing out both good and bad rounds within minutes.

“I think when you have that level of maturity, it allows you to play better golf on a more consistent basis,” Hill said.

In a sport built on momentum, that confidence is invaluable.

“I’m very competitive, and I would say I’m a pretty emotional player,” Wieler said. “But in our sport, you’ve got to move on, or it’ll carry over. It’s not only for myself, but also setting an example for my young teammates.” 

That mindset, combined with his competitive edge, has helped him grow into a leadership role on a younger roster. Having played alongside experienced veterans his first two seasons, Wieler is now passing along those lessons.

“I think staying relaxed is huge,” Wieler said. “We love to have a good time off the course. Positive vibes help people play well.”

Driving toward a title

If there’s a common identity emerging for this team, it’s power and precision off the tee. Hill emphasizes driving the golf ball as a recruiting priority and a competitive advantage.

When Elon players find fairways with length, it opens the course. It allows them to attack pins, control shot shapes and stay aggressive across 54 holes.

In college golf — an individual sport scored as a team competition — Hill’s philosophy is simple: put five players in position to win individually, and the team result will follow.

“My dream one day is to have five players tie for first,” Hill joked. “Mathematically, I think we’d have a pretty good chance.”

Behind the humor lies the expectation.

With a 3.5 team GPA and a roster of what Hill affectionately calls “golf nerds,” the culture is firmly established. 

“They want to eat it, drink it, breathe it, sleep it, the whole thing,” Hill said. 

If the youthful energy meets the program’s new championship standard, the Phoenix could once again find themselves chasing trophies by May.

“The goal is to keep playing and get to the NCAA tournament and then advance to the NCAA finals in California,” Hill said. “Getting a taste of it last year, obviously, we have a few appetites to take it further. You have to dream and set goals in a certain manner to allow that to happen.”