Cougar Golfer Prowls The National Rankings, Team Ranked In Nation

He was just seven years old when the first tee shot of his life sunk straight to the bottom of a pond. However, it was on that first hole of a par-three golf course outside of Indianapolis, Indiana where it all started.

Just a couple of shots later, Cleveland State (TN) golfer Wes Spillers would pull out a bogey. Fourteen years later, bogeys are something that seldom find his scorecard as the fourth-best NJCAA golfer in the nation.

"I was hooked," said Spillers. And now, the Cougar golfer goes into his second season ranked fourth in the nation in NJCAA Division II. "The team is ranked 12^th in the nation and I've been ranked fairly high. I thought I knew what my plans would be when it comes to what's next. But, this ranking is really opening up some opportunities for me. So, it's a whole new world."

As Men's Golf Head Coach Miles Moseley enters his third season at Cleveland State (TN) Community College, Wes has been someone he has kept his eye on. "Coach presented me with a lot of opportunities," added Spillers, an Upperman High School (TN) alum. "He has helped us so much as a team and me as a person."

Several top-20 finishes scattered across his freshman campaign has Spillers looking forward to Nationals 2021 in Indiana. "Right now, I'm fourth in the country. So, I'm kind of close to being a favorite," said the CSCC Psychology major. "I'm hoping to make a statement and let everyone know why I'm ranked as one of the best collegiate golfers right now."

The Chick-Fil-A Collegiate Invitational at Stonebridge Golf Club in Rome, Georgia served as his biggest lesson on the links in his freshman campaign last season. "I was in the lead on the last day as we made the turn," said Spillers. "Then, it just slipped away. It's taught me to focus and finish."

Finishing the season wouldn't be an option in 2020 as COVID-19 ended intercollegiate athletics nationwide this past spring. Spillers was set to play in the national championship in Missouri during his freshman campaign. However, the pandemic changed all of that. Dreams were put on hold.

But, then, as so much of the world was easily finding things to hate about the pandemic, Spillers saw the brightest of lights at the end of the 2020 tunnel.

"If the events we have planned take place this spring, it's just a freebie for all of us," said Spillers. "This isn't going to be a championship season. So, we can come back for an additional year of eligibility. I'm using the year to really work hard on my academics, as well as continue my golf career. It's a win-win."

Spillers is undefeated against Top 100 golfers in individual matches. A member of the PING NJCAA Division II All-American Team, Spillers leads the latest version of Cougar Golf. "We have three golfers returning and four new freshmen joining us this year," said Spillers. "We have some experience and some fresh eyes on the team this time around. It's a great mix that will keeps up full of energy and working hard."

For more information on Cleveland State Community College, call 423.472.7141 or visit the college at ClevelandStateCC.edu. Students are currently enrolled online and on-campus through the CSCC main campus in Cleveland, Tennessee, as well as CSCC's Athens Center in Athens, Tennessee and Monroe County Center in Vonore, Tennessee.

CSCC earned the Tennessee Board of Regent's 2019 College Of The Year. CSCC directly serves Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, and Polk Counties in Tennessee. The College System of Tennessee is the state's largest public higher education system, with 13 community colleges, 27 colleges of applied technology and the online TN eCampus serving more than 140,000 students.