All-Conference returner Ricky Copeland will lead the squad.
Head Coach Scott Moe welcomes back seven seniors and a talented group of newcomers as the Gusties hope to contend for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title this fall. Moe will look to senior captains Ricky Copeland and A.J. Olson to lead the way as the squad opens its season this weekend at the Augsburg Invitational.
Copeland, who finished third at last year’s MIAC Championship and earned All-Conference honors, led the team with a stroke average of 75.1 through 22 rounds. Olson, the Gusties #2 player a year ago posted a stroke average of 78.0, while Josh Curb (Sr., Bemidji, Minn.) averaged 78.1 and John Anderson (So., Appleton, Wis.) averaged 78.7. Other returners expected to contribute include senior Ben Bauknecht (San Diego, Calif.), senior Derek Hilding (Spicer, Minn.), senior Greg Palm (Orinda, Calif.), and senior Alex Woodhull (Minnetonka, Minn.).
Moe is also expecting a trio of talented newcomers to help the squad. That group includes first year players Saul Menendez (Gijon, Asturias, Spain), Trevor Gervais (Fergus Falls, Minn.) and Alex Kolquist (Hermantown, Minn.). Menendez is a National Junior Team member from Spain who has had significant success in many international competitions, while Gervais finished in the top ten at the Minnesota State High School Tournament in Class AA two years ago and Kolquist finished fifth in Class AA last year. Both have been very successful at the state and regional levels over the past several years.
The Gusties are ranked #23 in the American Golf Coaches Association (GCAA) Division III Coaches Preseason poll.