Piedmont University Athletics

Honors & Awards:
- Ranked No. 2 in all of NCAA DIII by GolfStat following the fall 2020 season
- PING/GCAA All-America Second Team (2021)
- Srixon/Cleveland/GCAA Scholar All-American (2021)
- PING/GCAA All-South Region (2021)
- All-USA South First Team (2021)
- Individual co-medalist at Transylvania Invitational with teammate Matthew Leemann (9/13/20)
 
Balen’s Season Records (2020-21):
- Highest national ranking in program history (2nd – 11/2020)
- 12 par-or-better rounds (1st)
 
Spring 2021:
- Competed in seven events and 18 total rounds
- Finished two events under par
- Fired Piedmont-best 68 in Round One of the Wynlakes Intercollegiate
- Had four par-or-better rounds
- Delivered a 2nd place finish at the USA South Tournament, falling on the first playoff hole
- Finished in a tie for 56th ou of 192 golfers at the Division III National Championship

Fall 2020:
- Competed in four events in the fall 2020 season
- Finished under par in three out of four events played
- Made Piedmont debut and finished as the individual co-medalist with 1-under finishing score
- Delivered two rounds in the 60’s
- Finished tied for 6th out of 38 golfers at the JT Poston Invitational (played against mostly Division I competition)
- Closed out the fall with a T-12 finish at the UNG Fall Invitational (played against Division II competition)

Concordia Univ. Texas (2016-19)

Awards:
-2019-20 Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-American Scholar
-2019-20 ASC Men's Golf Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year
-2019-20 ASC Academic All-Conference
-2018-19 Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-American Scholar
-2018-19 ASC Men's Golf Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year
-2018-19 ASC Academic All-Conference
-2018-19 ASC First Team
- 2017-18 ASC Academic All-Conference

2018-19:
-Played in nine tournaments on the season
- Tied his single-best round score of 68 at John Bohmann Memorial Invitational (Sept. 10-11)
- Recorded his first individual win with a career-best three-round score of 214 at the American Southwest Conference Championships (April 28-30)
- Registered a top three finish at the Texas Cuo...recorded four top-10 finishes for the year.

2017-18:
Played in seven tournaments on the year...took home a tie-for-14th place finish in the Abliene Intercollegiate (Oct. 23-24, 2017)...finished in second place with a career-best 72-68-140 (-4) at the Texas Cup (March 17-18, 2018).

2016-17:
- Finished in 25th place individually at the Abliene Intercollegiate
- Was a part of the five man team that took home first place in the Abilene Intercollegiate.

Prep and Personal:
- Native of Freeland, Michigan
- Transferred from Concorida Univ. Texas in 2020
- Graduated from Freeland High School in 2016
- Four-year letterman in golf
- Three-year team captain
- 2015 and 2016 First Team Michigan All-State selection.
- Pursuing MBA at Piedmont