SIU Golf: Greenfield gives Salukis, Fetcho verbal

Looking to build off a very solid two year career at Rend Lake College, Matt Greenfield is hoping to cap everything off in an even bigger fashion.

The Hassocks, England native has verbally committed to Southern Illinois University and will have two years of eligibility left.

The National Letter of Intent signing day is April 15, where Greenfield will make it official.

Greenfield made no qualms about Rend Lake College being a stepping stone to where he ultimately wants to be. That fits in good for Greenfield and his new head coach, Justin Fetcho who is looking to lay down the foundation for what is planned to be a solid program.

"I'm really looking forward to the new experience and new opportunities," Greenfield said Wednesday evening.

Greenfield is currently Fetcho's second signee, joining Arkansas three-time state champion, Peyton Wilhoit, from Searcy High School. Wilhoit was the 6A Arkansas High School individual state champion in 2014 and a time-time member of the Arkansas All-State golf team.

Greenfield, himself, brings to Southern an impressive resume.

Greenfield currently has an 18-hole average of 73 and his ranked 7th in the latest Golfstat.com National Junior College Athletic Association D2 poll. Greenfield was fourth on the NJCAA poll at the start of the month.

Greenfield's best finish this season was second at the Ron Marshall Spring Fling in Scottsboro, Alabama. He followed that up with a sixth place showing at the Mulerider Spring Classic in El Dorado, Arkansas and RLC is playing in its third tournament this coming weekend at the Augustana Viking Golf Invite in Milan, IL.

Last season as a freshman, Greenfield led the Warriors at a number of tournaments, including a first place finish at the RLC Fall Preview Invite, was second at the Walters State Invite, finished fifth at the Vincennes University Fall Invite, was seventh at the Mississippi Gulf Coast CC Invitational and was eighth at the John A. Logan College Invite.

For Greenfield, he believes his experience will be his X-factor for Fetcho and the Salukis.

"Absolutely, I think the two years of college golf, even though is junior college golf, is going to be a plus," Greenfield said. "I think I'm a consistent golfer and I'm not afraid to go out there and shoot a good score. I love the whole team aspect, even though golf could be considered an individual sport. Knowing there are guys that are out there grinding and that have your back, make it a lot easier to play."

Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.