Kyle Cochran (L) and Caleb Cochran (R) signed with IU East to play golf on Thursday, May 3. Photo supplied.
HAGERSTOWN, Ind. – The Cochran brothers are headed to Indiana University East to continue their golf careers.
Hagertown twins Kyle and Caleb Cochran signed with the Red Wolves on Thursday to join former teammate Ben Tinkle in the program.
“It says a lot about the kids we have here at Hagerstown,” Hagerstown Head Coach Billy Mullin said. “I’m very proud to send my kids to IU East.”
“They’re both very good students,” continued Mullin about the sons of Nate and Debbie Cochran. “They both have a passion for the game. I noticed that when they were freshmen.”
IU East is a NAIA school competing the River States Conference under Head Coach John Gordon located in Richmond, Ind.
“Last year, they really got on coach Gordon’s map,” Mullin said. “He saw the potential in them.”
Caleb said knowing that Tinkle was successful at IU East helped motivate him.
“I realized it’s possible to be a college golfer,” Caleb said. “That really sparked an interest.”
“The game is just awesome,” Caleb added. “I love playing. You always strive to better and better each time you go out there.”
For the twins, going to the same college wasn’t planned.
“It was just something that kind of worked out,” Caleb said. “We didn’t really have a set plan.”
Kyle liked the idea of staying near home.
“What drew me to IU East was how close it is,” the older of the two brothers said. “It’s not always just about golf.”
“I love being close to family, so that was pretty key for me,” Kyle said. “They have really good program and I like where they practice.”
The Red Wolves play at the Liberty Country Club and Tinkle is looking forward to being teammates again.
“I’m so happy that they are going to be on my team again,” said Tinkle, who just completed his sophomore season. “We had so much fun when we were playing together.”