Eichhorn's rise from Carney, Michigan to one of the top players in collegiate golf
By: Dan Avington (COMM '22)
The life of many young golfers typically consists of rounds on traditional 18-hole courses, professional golf lessons and junior golf tournaments close to home.
But Marquette golfer Hunter Eichhorn took a far different path on his way to becoming one of the top golfers in the collegiate ranks.
The redshirt junior grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in a small town called Carney, which is home to under 200 people. Though an unconventional launching point for elite athletic career, Eichhorn adores his hometown.
"Honestly I wouldn't have it any other way," Eichhorn said. "I'll always love that place, and I'm kind of glad I grew up there."
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Eichhorn honed his craft at Wild Pines in the U.P.
In his youth, Eichhorn learned how to golf from his grandfather, playing on a nine-hole course near his home called Wild Pines and developing an entirely self-taught swing, which he finds to be a major advantage.
"It's helped me because I can always figure out what's wrong with my game," Eichhorn said. "I never need somebody to look at it to see if something's out of place. I know what works for me and if something's not working correctly, I know how to adjust it and fix it."
At Carney-Nadeau High School, Eichhorn won the U.P. golf state championship four years in a row, but received little to no exposure for his play.Â
In order to get himself on college radars, Eichhorn had to travel to Wisconsin for WPGA events, which is where MU head coach Steve Bailey found him.
"He shot a lot of low numbers in junior golf, so that obviously caught our attention," Bailey said. "When you go out and shoot 63, 64, 65 on a regular basis in tournaments, that says something about you, I don't care what level. Hunter is so unique in so many ways, but his ability to find a way to get it done (is impressive)."
Once Bailey and Eichhorn started talking, the rest was history.Â
Flash forward a few years, and Eichhorn is now one of the most decorated golfers in program history with four medalist honors to his name.
Eichhorn boasts a laundry list of accolades, including an All-American nod (the first for MU since Mike Van Sickle), BIG EAST Player of the Year, BIG EAST Individual Champion, and 118th Wisconsin State Amateur Champion.Â
"He's done so much for our program in so many ways," Bailey said. "He wasn't going to let anyone stop him from competing at the highest level like he knew he was capable of doing. There's intangibles like that which have led him to where he is today."
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Eichhorn claimed medalist honors last fall at Erin Hills
For his prowess on the links, Eichhorn has received plenty of national recognition. He was named to the PGA Tour University Watch List over the summer, ranking him among the top 15 male college golfers.
"There's no way to put it other than it's pretty sweet to see," Eichhorn said. "Fortunately I had a pretty good season last year and that helped me as far as getting in that ranking system in the top 15. Anytime you can see your name on a list like that next to some of the best players is definitely cool."
Bailey said that even though he encourages his golfers to not necessarily strive for accolades, Eichhorn has worked hard day-in and day-out to earn placement on the list.
"(His ranking) is a byproduct of what he does on a daily basis," Bailey said. "He's earned all that, he's put the time and effort in to put his name on that list and to become an All-American. I'm really proud of all he's accomplished and know there's more to come."
As one of the country's top collegiate golfers, Eichhorn golfed in a number of high-level invitation-only tournaments this summer on the amateur circuit, including the 120th U.S. Amateur Championship at Bandon Dunes.
"Playing in these tournaments and being in those environments was really beneficial," Eichhorn said. "It's experiences like that that help you grow as a player and as a person, so it was definitely a lot of fun and something that I'll always remember."
For Bailey, the impact of Eichhorn on this MU golf program is obvious.
"I can't say enough positive things about him," Bailey said. "He's just proving, as a guy from a town of 190 people, it doesn't matter where you come from… We're certainly proud he's on our side. The future is obviously so bright for him."
But even after winning so many awards and putting himself in the Marquette record books, Eichhorn's mentality remains consistent.
"My mindset has always been the same," Eichhorn said. "Whether it was junior golf or college golf or playing in a national event over the summer, it's always, 'how can I shoot the low score, how can I play my best, how can I give myself a chance to win.'"
As Eichhorn gets closer to the end of his Marquette career, he is keeping his goals simple.
"I just want to keep improving," Eichhorn said. "We're only going to have a spring season this year, so we're going to have a short amount of time to really make a name for ourselves. It's going to be all about staying consistent, performing at a high level, and ultimately trying to get ourselves to regionals."
Keep up with the Marquette men's golf program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteMGolf) and Instagram (@MarquetteMGolf) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteMGolf).
