Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saulo returns to MT lineup healthy and hungry
9/27/2019 10:03:00 AM | Men's Golf
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — As Middle Tennessee's men's golfers swarmed Cooper Sears on the sixth playoff hole of the 2019 Conference USA Championship, they jumped and cheered for a second straight conference title.
One member of the team, redshirt junior Ilari Saulo, was missing from that group hug, but he's back with the Blue Raiders this season ready to make up for lost time.
Prior to the 2018 fall season, Saulo suffered two stress fractures in his wrist, and he chose to take the entire year off to heal and focus on getting his mental game in check.
"I hit a few too many golf balls, I guess," he said of the injury. "I took it in a positive way. It gave me a lot of time to work on my game and try to work on my physicals as well, trying to get stronger."
Saulo refused to take it easy during his redshirt season. He constantly worked with first-year Blue Raider coach Mark McEntire and his personal coach, who lives in Saulo's native country, Finland, to make sure he was ready to hit the ground running when he came back.
This summer, Saulo spent a majority of his time back in Finland, and his game started to come together.
He won three European tournaments and finished second at the Finnish Amateur Championship, giving him some momentum as he came back to Murfreesboro ahead of the start of the fall semester.
"I played really well this summer back in Europe, and it gave me a little bit of an idea where my game is at," Saulo said. "It was by far the best summer I've ever had and gave me some confidence coming back.
"I haven't played in a college tournament since April 2018, so it was nice to get back and get going."
One fall tournament in, it looks like Saulo's momentum followed him across the pond.
After a first-round 74 in the Blue Raiders' fall opener at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate in Louisiana, he fired 68 and 69 in the second and third rounds, respectively, putting him in a tie for second overall at 5-under par.
"I'm glad to see he's carried that into the lineup for us," McEntire said. "I've been doing this for 18 years, and I've never had anybody come in and stick with a plan in a redshirt year like he did. He really took that redshirt year to get ahead academically … and played a lot of golf."
If Middle Tennessee is going to compete for a third straight C-USA title, it'll need more of that from Saulo.
He's proven before he can lead the team on the course. He burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2016-17, pacing the Raiders in the fall with a 71.1 stroke average and three top-10 finishes in four events. He then finished the spring with a 73.9 stroke average en route to winning C-USA Freshman of the Year.
This season, he's trying to be a little more of a leader both on and off the course. The Blue Raiders have eight underclassmen and only three juniors and seniors.
"I definitely feel like I'm taking on a little more of a leadership role when it comes to practice and preparation and helping the young guys," Saulo said.
A healthy Saulo could be just what Middle Tennessee needs to get back to the promise land this season.
If there's a celebratory Blue Raider team hug at the end, expect him to be the first in the pile.
For all the latest information on Middle Tennessee Men's Golf, follow the #BlueRaiders on Facebook (@MTMensGolf), Twitter (@MT_MGolf) and Instagram (MT_MGolf).
One member of the team, redshirt junior Ilari Saulo, was missing from that group hug, but he's back with the Blue Raiders this season ready to make up for lost time.
Prior to the 2018 fall season, Saulo suffered two stress fractures in his wrist, and he chose to take the entire year off to heal and focus on getting his mental game in check.
"I hit a few too many golf balls, I guess," he said of the injury. "I took it in a positive way. It gave me a lot of time to work on my game and try to work on my physicals as well, trying to get stronger."
Saulo refused to take it easy during his redshirt season. He constantly worked with first-year Blue Raider coach Mark McEntire and his personal coach, who lives in Saulo's native country, Finland, to make sure he was ready to hit the ground running when he came back.
This summer, Saulo spent a majority of his time back in Finland, and his game started to come together.
He won three European tournaments and finished second at the Finnish Amateur Championship, giving him some momentum as he came back to Murfreesboro ahead of the start of the fall semester.
"I played really well this summer back in Europe, and it gave me a little bit of an idea where my game is at," Saulo said. "It was by far the best summer I've ever had and gave me some confidence coming back.
"I haven't played in a college tournament since April 2018, so it was nice to get back and get going."
One fall tournament in, it looks like Saulo's momentum followed him across the pond.
After a first-round 74 in the Blue Raiders' fall opener at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate in Louisiana, he fired 68 and 69 in the second and third rounds, respectively, putting him in a tie for second overall at 5-under par.
"I'm glad to see he's carried that into the lineup for us," McEntire said. "I've been doing this for 18 years, and I've never had anybody come in and stick with a plan in a redshirt year like he did. He really took that redshirt year to get ahead academically … and played a lot of golf."
If Middle Tennessee is going to compete for a third straight C-USA title, it'll need more of that from Saulo.
He's proven before he can lead the team on the course. He burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2016-17, pacing the Raiders in the fall with a 71.1 stroke average and three top-10 finishes in four events. He then finished the spring with a 73.9 stroke average en route to winning C-USA Freshman of the Year.
This season, he's trying to be a little more of a leader both on and off the course. The Blue Raiders have eight underclassmen and only three juniors and seniors.
"I definitely feel like I'm taking on a little more of a leadership role when it comes to practice and preparation and helping the young guys," Saulo said.
A healthy Saulo could be just what Middle Tennessee needs to get back to the promise land this season.
If there's a celebratory Blue Raider team hug at the end, expect him to be the first in the pile.
For all the latest information on Middle Tennessee Men's Golf, follow the #BlueRaiders on Facebook (@MTMensGolf), Twitter (@MT_MGolf) and Instagram (MT_MGolf).
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
MTSU Football at Nevada highlights – 9/13/25
Sunday, September 14
MTSU Football Postgame Press Conference @ Nevada on 09-13-25
Sunday, September 14
Raider Report Week 3 - MTSU vs. University of Nevada
Friday, September 12
Derek Mason LIVE: Presented by The Boulevard Bar & Grille Week 3
Wednesday, September 10
