Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) held a dedication Friday for a new golf practice facility, honoring a former player on the men’s golf team.
“Today is a special day as we commend the SMWC Golf programs and honor the life and legacy of one of our alumni, Ben Myers ’20, who is looking down on us from heaven and continues to leave a lasting impact at SMWC,” said Brennan Randolph, president of SMWC.
The Ben Myers ’20 Golf Practice Facility is named for Myers, who passed away in January of 2024. Later that year, SMWC announced it would establish a practice space to honor Myers, who earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from SMWC in 2020 and was a member of the two-time USCAA National Champion golf team, personally earning USCAA All-American and Academic All-American honors in 2018-19.
“It means so much to know (Ben) is honored and remembered, not only by us, but by this community he was a part of,” said Jessica Michael, Myers’ sister, who was joined by Myers’ mother, Denise Titzer, and her husband, Andy, Myers’ father, Mike Myers, and Myers’ brother, Christopher, for the event in the lower level of the Rooney Center.
Titzer was grateful to SMWC for honoring her son in a special way on the campus he loved.
“As a parent, there is no greater heartbreak than losing a child. While nothing can fill that void, seeing the College honor my son brings us comfort and pride,” Denise Titzer said. “Having the golf practice facility dedicated in Ben’s honor means more to our family than words can express. Golf was his passion, and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods was a place where he found friendship, purpose and success. Ben was proud to be a part of the SMWC golf team, especially during the years the team won two national championships. While those accomplishments were important to him, what mattered most were the relationships he built with his teammates, coaches, professors and friends.”
Myers’ family was joined by SMWC students, faculty, staff and members of both the women’s and men’s golf teams for the unveiling.
“Many of you are aware that we do not have a golf course at SMWC. This space serves as a great tool in place of a course, though,” said Kevin Lanke, SMWC’s associate vice president for athletics. “Within this facility, our students on both the men’s and women’s golf teams are provided the tools to improve their skills and bond with their teammates.”
The Uneekor simulator, which players have used for the last two seasons, includes a driving range, short game, target practice and courses where student-athletes will compete during the season. Cameras also record a player’s golf swing.
Kyle Miller, head coach of SMWC’s women’s and men’s golf teams, and his teams raised the money for the state-of-the-art facility simulator.
“The simulator allows us to practice in the winter months,” Miller said. “It also gives the players a place to practice on campus whenever they want. This space helps our recruitment.”
SMWC golfer Lincoln Pierce, a freshman supply chain management major from Brazil, Ind., said the facility is a blessing for his team.
“This is a great way for us to be able to see how we’re hitting,” he said. “It’s nice that we can use this inside when the weather outside doesn’t allow us to hit the course.”
In addition to the dedication of the golf practice space, Myers was also posthumously inducted into the SMWC Athletic Hall of Fame during Homecoming weekend.