A history of success
Since their first season in 1969, the men's golf program has been one of Towson's most successful programs.
When the athletics program moved up to NCAA Division I status in 1980, the transition for the golf team was seamless. In fact, the men's golf team won Towson University's first East Coast Conference title, winning the ECC Championship in 1983, and hasn't looked back since.
Current Head Coach, Brian Yaniger, arrived in 1998, marking the start of a very successful era for Towson Men's Golf. In his first 14 seasons at the helm, Yaniger earned conference Coach of the Year honors five times, and was the regional Coach of the Year once. Aside from his teams' conference titles in 1998, 2000 and 2010, Yaniger has guided to the Tigers to a pair of third place finishes (2003, 2004) and a runner-up finish (2005) at the CAA Championship.
Since 2000, the Tigers have qualified for NCAA post-season play four times. In 2000, the Tigers qualified for the NCAA Tournament as the America East champions. They played in the West Regional hosted by Fresno State.
In 2004 and 2005, the Tigers earned at-large spots in the NCAA Tournament. They competed in the East regional at Yale in 2004 and the East regional at Tennessee in 2005. As the Colonial Athletic Association champions in 2010, the Tigers appeared in the East regional at Georgia Tech.
Both Wingerd and Castle were selected to the CAA’s 25th anniversary All-CAA men’s golf team in 2010.
Wingerd is one of six Tigers to win medalist honors at a conference tournament. While Bob Perry won the 1983 East Coast Conference individual title, Steve Cartano was the 1988 ECC medalist. In 1997, Jamie Geilenkirchen was the America East medalist while Brad Foxwell was the medalist in 1998. In 2000, Greg Cote was the America East medalist.
A two-time All-CAA selection, 2011 graduate Nyasha Mauchaza (bottom right) earned recognition on the national level when he competed in the 24th annual PGA of America Minority Collegiate Golf Championships in Florida and finished second.
When the athletics program moved up to NCAA Division I status in 1980, the transition for the golf team was seamless. In fact, the men's golf team won Towson University's first East Coast Conference title, winning the ECC Championship in 1983, and hasn't looked back since.
Conference Championships
Since 1976, Towson has won seven conference titles. The Tigers claimed two Mason-Dixon Conference championships (1976, 1978), a single East Coach Conference title (1983), three America East crowns (1996, 1998, 2000) and a Colonial Athletic Association championship in 2010. Current Head Coach, Brian Yaniger, arrived in 1998, marking the start of a very successful era for Towson Men's Golf. In his first 14 seasons at the helm, Yaniger earned conference Coach of the Year honors five times, and was the regional Coach of the Year once. Aside from his teams' conference titles in 1998, 2000 and 2010, Yaniger has guided to the Tigers to a pair of third place finishes (2003, 2004) and a runner-up finish (2005) at the CAA Championship.
NCAA Appearances
In 2004 and 2005, the Tigers earned at-large spots in the NCAA Tournament. They competed in the East regional at Yale in 2004 and the East regional at Tennessee in 2005. As the Colonial Athletic Association champions in 2010, the Tigers appeared in the East regional at Georgia Tech.
On the Tour
Former Tiger Dave Hutsell (center right) is the most prominent Towson golfer playing professionally. He won the 2011 PGA Professional National Championship in Hershey, Pa. in late June and also won the Maryland State Open. The PGA Director of Instruction at The Elkridge Club in Maryland, he has played in the last two PGA Championships (2010, 2011) and was named the 2011 PGA Professional Player of the Year. He was also member of the Tigers' Baseball team for one season.
Standing out in a crowd
Two of the Tigers’ top golfers, Billy Wingerd and Jeff Castle (top right), were both honored as the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year while competing for Towson. Wingerd, the CAA medalist in 2004, earned All-CAA First Team honors three years in a row. After Wingerd was named the CAA Player of the Year in 2004, Castle earned the award in 2006. A three-time All-CAA selection, Castle, currently an assistant coach for Towson Men's Golf, was also named All-Region three times.Both Wingerd and Castle were selected to the CAA’s 25th anniversary All-CAA men’s golf team in 2010.
Wingerd is one of six Tigers to win medalist honors at a conference tournament. While Bob Perry won the 1983 East Coast Conference individual title, Steve Cartano was the 1988 ECC medalist. In 1997, Jamie Geilenkirchen was the America East medalist while Brad Foxwell was the medalist in 1998. In 2000, Greg Cote was the America East medalist.
A two-time All-CAA selection, 2011 graduate Nyasha Mauchaza (bottom right) earned recognition on the national level when he competed in the 24th annual PGA of America Minority Collegiate Golf Championships in Florida and finished second.
