Out of Nowhere

Hunter Eichhorn was on his official visit to Marquette and sitting in the office of golf coach Steve Bailey when he shared some big news about his hometown. "A girl moved into town," Eichhorn said. The new arrival brought the student population in the school system to 90. So yes, it was big news. Carney, Mich., is in the Upper Peninsula, near Lake Michigan and in the middle of nowhere. This is the kind of town where nothing is given, and people meet at the American Legion to discuss politics and the harsh realities of life. This is a place where snow is on the ground seven months a year and the kids play every sport just so the school can field a team. This isn't a place where you’d expect one of the best golfers in Marquette history to come from. But it is. 

The green fee at nine-hole WildPines Golf Course is $12. It is the course where Eichhorn learned the game from his grandfather. Asked if the course has a par-5, Eichhorn chuckled. “Yes,” he said. “It was 396 yards." Eichhorn would play as much as he could before the snow returned. Then he hung up the clubs for basketball, his first love. But when the snow finally melted in May, he would head to WildPines. 

During his freshman year of high school, he won the Upper Peninsula individual state title. He also won it as a sophomore. And a junior. Oh, and as a senior year, becoming the only player in state history to win four titles. As a senior, he averaged 68. 

During his high school years, summers were filled with amateur tournaments, but only in Michigan or Wisconsin. He only knew a little about national junior events; even if he did, he wouldn't have been able to go. As the son of a school teacher and a pipefitter, Eichhorn didn't have money to travel to national tournaments. Luckily his mother had summers off, so they would pack up the Tahoe with too many miles on it and trek to Wisconsin to play junior events. And he won. A lot. Asked how he learned about Eichhorn, Bailey said, "Shoot low scores like he did, and the word gets out." 

Bailey recruited Eichhorn hard, and during one phone call he told him he needed a decision soon. His backup plan was a kid from England. On Father's Day in 2016, Bailey was at O'Hare Airport in Chicago, headed to the British Boys Championship to visit that very player, when his phone rang. It was Eichhorn, calling to let him know he was coming to Marquette. Bailey was standing in line for his British Airways flight. He never got on the plane. 

After committing to Marquette in the summer before his senior year, Eichhorn again hung up his clubs for basketball season, and his team played a game in Milwaukee. Bailey rounded up the Marquette golf team and headed to the gym. Eichhorn dropped in a school-record 12 three-pointers and scored 39 points. Bailey hoped that new Marquette basketball coach Steve Wojciechowski didn't hear about the 39-point output as he wanted to keep his star recruit. 

Bailey's biggest concern when Eichhorn came to campus was his adjustment to urban life. Those concerns were quickly put to rest when he won an invitational in El Paso, Texas, just a few events into his college career. That trip marked his first time on an airplane. He was the Big East Player of the Year as a freshman, and was honored twice more during his illustrious career. 

Eichhorn won six times in his five years (he had an extra year for Covid), setting the program career scoring record with a 71.38 average. He graduated in 2021 with a degree in Corporate Communication and worked toward his master’s degree. 

On Monday, Eichhorn made two eagles and five birdies on his way to a bogey-free 62 at the Veritex Monday qualifier. On Thursday he teed off in his first Korn Ferry Tour event, shooting a 66 in the first round. On his shirt was the logo for the Island Casino and Resort in Hermanville, Michigan, 29 miles from that town in the middle of nowhere. The casino has supported Eichhorn’s pro career after he worked for years as a cart kid at the resort’s golf course. The entire Upper Peninsula is rooting for him. 

Out of nowhere to the big time. 

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