DANIELS, W.Va. - If the Red Wolves of Indiana University East claimed control of the River States Conference men's golf scene earlier this year with a conference title, they certainly strengthened that hold this week at the RSC's golf headquarters of Glade Springs Resort Golf Course.
Indiana University East won their second straight tournament at Glade Springs by claiming the 2026 River States Conference Men's Golf Fall Preview title on Tuesday in West Virginia. IU East, who returned five golfers from last's season conference championship team, cleared the field by 33 shots with a 36-hole score of 573, good for three-under par. St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, thanks to a successful second day, finished second with a two-day total of 606 (+30).
The Red Wolves raced out to a 15-shot lead in the first round, shooting a five-under 283 with WVU Tech the closest to the leader at 298 (+10). All four countable golfers for IU East were at par or lower, led by a three-under par 69 from Noah Mulford. A Red Wolf individual led the field, as junior transfer Kadin Gibson paced the field with a four-under 68, powered by an eagle, three birdies, and a bogey. The Red Wolves accounted for four of the six under par golfers in the first round.
Although the Wolves' scores didn't go as low on a cooler Tuesday, IU East saw their lead grow in the final round. The Red Wolves shot a 290 (+2), finishing 33 shots clear of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, who charged up the leaderboard from fifth to second. Brescia University also made a move up the leaderboard on the final day, going from sixth to third thanks to a 301 (+13) score.
The individual medalist race was a dramatic one, as Noah Mulford and Kadin Gibson battled for what turned out to be 40 holes. Both golfers birdied their 36th hole - Gibson on the ninth and Mulford on the 18th - to force a playoff. The two golfers played even for three holes, making back-to-back pars on the 18th and carding a bogey on the 10th. Mulford, who carded scores of 69 and 71, finally broke through on the 11th, making a par to claim the individual medalist crown and enter the spring in pole position for Player of the Year honors.
The fall preview is designed to give the teams a first look at the golf course before returning in May for the River States Conference Championship. The 2027 RSC Men's Golf Championship is scheduled for May 2-4, back at Glade Springs Resort Golf Course in West Virginia. IU East is the reigning champion, having now won two straight tournaments at Glade Springs by claiming the 2026 RSC Championship and 2026 RSC Fall Preview titles.