Each year since Jim Hamilton took over as head coach and began building the Aces’ men’s golf program, there’s been a talented senior to lead the way.

Two years ago it was Chris Bouchard, an all-Missouri Valley Conference player and UE’s first U.S. Amateur Championship qualifier. Last year it was Kyle Reddington, Evansville’s career scoring leader. Now the lead man is senior Matt Hunsaker, whose 75.05 career scoring average is the second best in school history. In fact, Hunsaker outdueled Reddington last season to become the Aces’ scoring leader with a 74.3 average. He is also Evansville’s third consecutive Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar.

Hunsaker will lead the Aces into the season opener September 15 at the University of Kansas Invitational. It is the first of four tournaments that Evansville will compete in this fall.

Of course, it takes five to make a team, and Hunsaker has help from veterans Christian Poling, Ryan Linsner and Luke Zielinski. Poling was UE’s number three man at 75.3 and finished third in a field of 57 to help UE win the Butler Invitational. Linsner was fifth with a 77.7 average, and finished the season with six consecutive rounds in the 70s. Zielinski got in three rounds and averaged 80.33. Those four will be pushed by newcomers Neal Millay, Michael Sainz, Griffin Wood, Andrew Luo and Ricardo Paredes.

“Three of our top five from last season return, so that’s a good start,” Hamilton says. “And with the new players we have coming in, I think we could be very competitive in the Missouri Valley Conference. Our goal should be to win the MVC.”