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ESCANABA -- Hunter Eichhorn's college golf career is done. Now he has a big decision to make on his golf future.
The native of Carney tied for 53rd overall Wednesday at the NCAA Columbus regional in his final appearance with the Marquette University golf team. He birdied the final two holes of his final round at Ohio State University's Scarlett Course.
He is the only Marquette golfer to play in four NCAA tournaments. He had rounds of 74-77-71 – 222. He was the top-seeded individual player at the regional tournament.
In 32 rounds this season, the graduate student averaged 70.41 strokes, with a low round of 61, which broke a 19-year-old school record. In his five-year career (an extra year was given due to the COVID-19 pandemic) he averaged 71.32 strokes and won six tournament titles.
"Hunter is not a golf purist. He's a competitor. He just really loves to compete," Marquette golf coach Steve Bailey said on the school website.
Eichhorn earned an undergraduate degree in corporate communications and is finishing a certificate in sports leadership.
His home course is Wild Pines Golf Course in Hermansville, a nine-hole track on U.S. 2.
He never had a golf lesson growing up.
He has also worked -- and played -- at Sage Run Golf Course in Wilson for three years.
"It was fun to watch his college career close in typical Hunter fashion, birdies on his last two holes to shoot even par," Bailey said on the school website.
"The impact he has made on our program is immeasurable. He obviously sits atop nearly every statistical category in Marquette history, but more importantly are the intangible ways he helped elevate our program, through his leadership on and off the course.
"His small-town story is one of the greatest in all of college golf, and his legacy at Marquette will never be forgotten."
Eichhorn won the Upper Peninsula Golf Association men's championship in 2018, the only time he has competed in that event. He won four Upper Peninsula golf championships at Carney-Nadeau High School.
Eichhorn, who had indicated earlier he may delay a decision on turning pro, told WisconsinGolf.com recently he had changed his mind in that regard.
"I've had some meetings and talked with some people, and I've basically kind of reversed my decision," he said.
"There's no reason for me to stay amateur. So I'll be looking to play in some Monday (qualifiers), some mini tour stuff. I don't really have a schedule figured out, but we're working on a lot of the logistical things.
"This summer will be good prep time for the (Korn Ferry Tour) Q School in the fall. Hopefully, I'll get a lot of experience. I might play in some APT Tour events, maybe some Dakotas Tour events. I'm still sorting out a lot of the details, but I at least made a decision and have a general idea, so that's a pretty big step.