(Releases courtesy of Matt Higgins, MIAC Assistant Executive Director)
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Gustavus Adolphus College golfers Andrew Brandt (Sr., Medina, Minn.) and McKenzie Swenson (So., Buffalo, Minn.) have earned MIAC Golfer of the Week honors as voted on by the MIAC Sports Information Directors.
Brandt
The Masters wasn’t the only golf tournament that featured an impressive final-round performance for a come-from-behind win. At the Augsburg Spring Invitational, Gustavus’s Andrew Brandt found himself two shots off the lead after the first round, but he rallied with a 3-under par final round to claim individual medalist honors, while also leading Gustavus to a dominant team victory. For his performance, the MIAC sports information directors honored Brandt Wednesday with the MIAC Men’s Golf Athlete-of-the-Week award.
Brandt started strong with a 1-over-par 73 during Saturday’s first round at Pebble Creek Golf Course in Becker, Minn., but he was truly saving his best for last. The Gustie senior fired a tournament-best 69 – 3-under-par – on Sunday to move to 2-under for the tournament and win by three shots with a total score of 145. His performance also helped Gustavus card a 594 (301-293) as a team to finish first by 19 shots, with its Sunday score of 293 the best of the tournament by six strokes. This season, Brandt has played in four events with a 76.89 scoring average.
The Gusties and Brandt hope to keep the momentum rolling from last weekend’s big wins in their spring home tournament this weekend. Gustavus will host the Bobby Krig Invitational on April 17-18. The 36-hole tournament will include 18 holes each day at two different golf courses. Sunday’s round will be played in Jordan, Minn., and Monday’s round will take place in Le Sueur, Minn. After that, the Gusties have just one more match left on their regular-season schedule.
Swenson
Consistency was key for the Gustavus women’s golf team and McKenzie Swenson at the two-day Augsburg College Spring Invitational. Swenson’s used her consistent performance to finish second individually in a talented field, and she led the Gusties to an impressive 10-shot team win. For her performance, the MIAC sports information directors honored Swenson Wednesday with the MIAC Women’s Golf Athlete-of-the-Week award.
Swenson was steady throughout both rounds of the Augsburg Invite, which was held Saturday and Sunday at the Les Bolstad University of Minnesota Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn. She shot an 85 in each of the two rounds to finish with a 36-hole score of 170, which beat all 40 players in the field except one. Her performance helped Gustavus shoot a 345 Saturday and a 350 Sunday, for a two-day total of 695 and a 10-shot victory over second-place Bethel. This season, Swenson is Gustavus’ top scorer to lead a very balanced team effort. Her average of 83.18 shots per round leads five Gusties that all average between 83 and 85 strokes.
Gustavus hopes to keep its winning ways going over a busy finish to the month of April. The Gusties will head to Coon Rapids, Minn., for the Minnesota State-Mankato Invitational on Saturday and Sunday, with 18 holes each day at the two-day tournament. After that, the team will play at the Bethel Invitational on April 23-24 and at the Carleton Invitational on April 30-May 1. Those final three tournaments will conclude Gustavus’ 2016 regular season.