Despite strong third-day showings, the men’s and women’s golf teams fell just short of a MIAC championship title over the October 1 weekend, taking the runner-up spots at the Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids.
After concluding Sunday’s round in fifth place, the Gustavus men shot lights out on Monday, posting a tournament-low score of 290(+2). They finished with a three-day total 901(+37) to finish one stroke ahead of third-place finishers St. John’s. Junior Captain Alex Kolquist shot a two-under-par 70 on day three to tie for the tournament’s lowest score. He finished the tournament in fifth place with a total of 224(76-78-70).
Sophomore Andrew Oakes wrapped up a strong tournament showing with an even par on Monday to land a third place finish, shooting a total 223(77-74-72). All five Gusties finished inside the top-20 with Junior Coby Rowley, Junior Trevor Gervais and Sophomore Tyler McMorrow finishing 10th, 15th and 19th respectively. St. Thomas took the championship title with an overall score of 897(+33).
First-year Sam Falk led the Gustavus women with a record-breaking MIAC Conference Championship debut. Her three-day total of 232(+16) is the second-best 54-hole total in Gustavus Women’s Golf history. The score placed her in third overall, the best finish by a first-year golfer in the history of the program.
Senior Annie Jackson clinched All-Conference honors for the second time in her career, firing a total 241(83-81-77) for an eighth place finish. Senior Taylor Drenttel and First-Year Liz Strom tied for 12th with a score of 244(+25) and Junior Kayleigh Dittes shot 248(+32) to come in 16th.
The team three-day total of 961 is the best 54-hole score ever recorded by a Gustavus team, but it wasn’t enough to catch conference champions St. Olaf. St. Olaf posted three of the lowest scores in its history during the tournament and Ole Vanessa Kleckner took first place individually after shooting a total 229(+13). The victory was the first MIAC Championship win for the Oles, who ended Gustavus’ three-year reign.
The Gustavus men will finish up their fall season October 8-10 at the Twin Cities Classic. The women enter the off-season preparing for the spring where they hope to secure an at-large bid to the NCAA National Tournament.
Recently I found out just how to improve my golf driving skills. I already searched everywhere and just could not find out how to practice from the comfort of my home. A perfect Indoor Driving Range was the perfect solution for me.