The 2011-12 Gustavus men's golf team.
The 2011-12 campaign for the Gustavus men’s golf team will feature the return of all of its players from last season’s squad that reached the NCAA Championships. The Gustie men are young and poised to make another run at the national tournament behind the strong play of last season’s top shooter, junior Alex Kolquist. The Hermantown, Minn. native led the team with a 74.2-stroke average, placed 15th at the NCAA Championships, was named team MVP and achieved Second Team All-America honors.
The other four players who represented the Gusties at the NCAA Championships and making their return in 2011 include junior Trevor Gervais (Fergus Falls, Minn.), and sophomores Simon Erlandsson (Mjolby, Sweden), Tyler McMorrow (St. Cloud, Minn.) and Andrew Oakes (Hermantown, Minn). The top five golfers for the Gusties combined for 13 top-five finishes; Oakes with one, Gervais and Erlandsson with two, McMorrow with three and Kolquist with five.
Last spring, the Gusties missed the cut at the NCAA Championships by only one stroke, which is something Head Coach Scott Moe feels his squad will be motivated by this season. Gustavus finished in 17th place out of the 40 teams in the tournament. Also, with the return of all of his players, Coach Moe is excited to see the competition between teammates.
Junior Alex Kolquist returns as the Gusties top shooter from last season, finishing 15th at the NCAA Championships.
“I am very excited for the season,” Moe acknowledged. “We have all of our players returning from last year’s NCAA team. We had a great spring last season before the NCAA’s, we missed making the cut by one shot at the tournament to get to the final two days and I think that has really motivated our guys to work hard this off season to be prepared. I look for our returning five to be very tough with a couple of others pushing them and vying for a spot in the top five. The competition amongst us will be great.”
The Gustie men begin play on September 10 at the Augsburg Invite in Ham Lake, Minn. and will make their fall trip to Florida on September 24.
“We have a great fall schedule,” Moe said. “Highlighted by a return trip to the Gordin Classic in Florida, comprised of the top 18 teams in the country. It takes place during the third week of the year so we need to be prepared. It will be the only time we see a number of those schools.”