Argument exists whether Maro Iten is the greatest golfer in Austin Peay history. But no argument exists Iten enjoyed the best golfing season in program history. In one spring season (2014), the Niederglatt, Switzerland native, who speaks fluently four languages, stepped to the forefront and won four tournaments as a senior (giving him a school-record five titles), including being the only Austin Peay athlete or team in history to capture an NCAA regional.
"No question Marco had an amazing senior season," then-APSU coach Kirk Kayden said. "And this was a guy who really wasn't recruited much. I think Marco had two offers, one from (Division II) Saint Leo and us. We were lucky he ended up here. You just don't see golfers like him (overlooked) at the mid-major level.
"Marco developed as a human being, a student and obviously as a golfer like no other."
He was part of a remarkable three-year stretch that saw Austin Peay's golf team finish first (2013) or second (2012, 2014) at the OVC Championship. No question exists the tourneys captured by Iten in 2014 were no slouches. The previous spring season saw the Govs finish seventh in the Tempe Regional—the best finish not only by a Govs team but an Ohio Valley Conference program as well since the regional format was implemented—with Iten finishing 13th at regional. And with both Iten and Anthony Bradley leading a group of outstanding returnees, Kayden continued to improve the scheduling, which included the Talis Park Challenge, the Memphis Intercollegiate, the Old Waverly Intercollegiate, the Reunion Intercollegiate. That was just the spring. The fall schedule included the Columbia (Mo.) Regional Preview and the three-day (Wisconsin) Badger Invitational.
"We had a terrific group of players returning, not just Marco and Anthony," Kayden said. "Other than (graduated) Dustin (Korte), we returned Tucker Wallace and Trey Tarpley (plus added then-freshman Chris Baker) so we certainly played in some difficult tournaments because there were other potential ways to get into the regionals other than winning your own conference tournament."
Iten now makes three former Kayden golfers to enter the Austin Peay athletics Hall of Fame, joining Grant Leaver (2015) and Erik Barnes (2018). His induction also makes it eight former Govs golfers inducted. Iten's induction helps perpetuate men's golf as one of APSU's most successful programs.
Iten wrapped up Fall 2013 with a fourth-place finish at the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate—his 211 fashioning three rounds of par or better golf—the only Gov to do so. An F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate champion as a sophomore, he used that final 2013 tournament to springboard into Spring 2014.
His spring was better than any Austin Peay history. In fact, Iten recorded 11 Top 20 finishes that spring, including seven rounds in the 60s. After winning the Talis Park (March 17) in Naples, Florida, and Old Waverly (April 8) events in West Pointe, Mississippi, Iten battled through a rain-soaked field to claim the Ohio Valley Conference Championship at the Fighting Joe in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, making it two individual champions in three years for Austin Peay after Bradley took the crown in 2012. Back-to-back 68s gave Iten the title as the event was halted by rain during the third round.
From there, Iten moved on to Auburn as an individual. Carving out one of the greatest rounds in Austin Peay golf history, Iten ran away with the NCAA Auburn Regional, shooting a final-round 5-under 67 which included three consecutive birdies on the back nine. It allowed him to claim a four-shot victory against a field that included defending and future 2014 NCAA champion Alabama while earning an individual berth to the NCAA Golf Championship in Hutchinson, Kansas. By claiming medalist honors with an 8-under 208, Iten represented the Auburn Regional as the low individual not a member of the top five NCAA qualifying teams.
"I remember the golf pro at Auburn University (Club) coming up to me and saying your golfer beat every one of the golfers at Alabama—that Alabama had won the NCAA title the year before," Kayden laughingly said. "And he also said Marco would never have to pay for another round of golf at that course because he beat all those Alabama golfers."
Iten closed his career with a 4-over 214 to finish tied for 55th at the NCAA Championships in Hutchinson, Kansas. He was the fourth-highest finisher among individuals in the event.
"Marco had such a great short game and it all came together for him that senior season," Kayden said. "We were paired with a golfer (Cyrus Stewart) from Wake Forest for all three days at the NCAA tournament (Prairie Dunes). I will never forget his coach Jerry Haas, who played on the (PGA) tour for several years, telling me Marco 'had some of the greatest (golf) hands he had ever seen.'"
Iten's season netted him OVC Golfer of the Year—APSU's eighth such honor, PING All-Region honors, his third consecutive All-OVC nod and Austin Peay's Male Athlete of the Year award. Understand Iten was voted Austin Peay's top male athlete before he won the OVC championship and captured the regional.
Iten played for the Swiss Junior National Team as an amateur. He currently is a professional on the Pro Golf and Challenge Tours after also playing the European Challenge Tour, with a career-best runner-up finish at the Monaghan Irish Challenge in 2018.
