The Gustavus Adolphus men’s golf team closed out the 2006 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Golf Championships Monday at Bunker Hills G.C. in Coon Rapids with a final round total of 300 to finish the event with a 54-hole total of 901, tied for second place with Augsburg. Defending champion Saint John’s captured its third straight title with a three-day total of 877.
Saint John’s placed four golfers in the top seven individually, while a fifth – defending meet medalist Joe Daly – finished 13th. For the Gusties, senior Erik Tone (Willmar, Minn.) shot a final-round 70 to finish at even-par 73-73-70–216, second in the medalist hunt behind SJU’s Joe Schoolmeesters (71-71-72–214). Last year’s runner-up, Gustavus’ Jordan Hawkinson (Jr., Lindstrom, Minn.), finished fifth with a score of 76-70-77–223, while teammate Eric Harris (Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) finished three shots back at 73-77-76–226 in a tie for ninth place. Mark Stuckey (Jr., St. Peter, Minn.) finished in a tie for 30th with a score of 81-78-81–240 and Arie DeGrio (Jr., Grand Rapids, Minn.) rounded out the Gustavus effort with a 38th place score of 85-82-77–244.
Tone, Hawkinson and Harris each picked up All-MIAC honors. For Tone and Hawkinson, it marked the second time in their careers that they received all-league honors. Tone finished tied for third in the 2004 meet, while Hawkinson finished second last season.
Gustavus Adolphus will host the Twin Cities Classic Saturday-Monday, Oct. 7-9. First round play will take place Saturday at Elk River Country Club, while second round play will occur Sunday at The Links at Northfork in Ramsey. Monday’s final round will be contested at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska.