Monticello, Minn. – The Gustavus Adophus men’s golf team moved up three places to finish second overall at the Saint John’s Spring Invitational held over the weekend at the St. Cloud Country Club and Monticello Country Club. Following an opening round 301 (+13) that put the Gusties in fifth place, Head Coach Scott Moe’s squad shot a 282 and a 287 in Monticello to complete the three-round tournament with a score of 870 (+14). Gustavus was beaten by only the University of St. Thomas who finished one stroke ahead with an 869 (+13). Saint John’s rounded out the top three in third with an 872 (+16).
“To fire a 282 and a 287 on the same day just shows you how great of golf the team was playing,” said Scott Moe following this afternoon’s play. “This was the first time this year that we had all of our guys playing together. That’s great for their confidence and it gives them a glimpse of how good they can be when it all comes together. I’m pleased with how we competed this weekend and look forward to building on this performance on Friday in Stillwater.”
Leading the Gusties from start-to-finish this weekend was rookie Alec Aunan (Rock Island, Ill.). After shooting a one-over-par 73 to end up in an eight-way tie for sixth place on Saturday in St. Cloud, Aunan followed up with an even-par 71 and a two-under 69 today. He finishes the tournament in a three-way tie for third place alongside Saint John’s Ryan Gallagher and UW-Stout’s Kraig Joy with a 213 (-1).
Winning the 96-player meet was St. Thomas’s Jack Riester who finished three-under with a 211. William Leaf of the University of Minnesota rounded out the podium in second with a two-under 212.
Every Gustavus player improved on his Saturday score this afternoon. Andrew Brandt (Jr., Medina, Minn.), Chris Captain (Fr., Rochester, Minn.), and Matt Spier (Jr., Prior Lake, Minn.) all finished 12th overall with five-over 219s. Brandt improved on a opening round 75 (+3) with a 71 (E) and a 73 (+2), Captain improved on a 77 (+5) with a 71 (E) and a 71 (E), and Spier improved on a 76 (+4) with 69 (-2) and a 74 (+3). Andrew Krasaway (Jr., Hermantown, Minn.) rounded out the team in 38th at 227 (+13) with a pair of 74s (+3) after carding a 79 (+7) on day one.
“It’s sad to see our two seniors, Ben and Danny, play their finals rounds today,” Moe added about his seniors. “They are great competitors and outstanding student-athletes who have meant a lot to this program.”
The Gustavus men’s golf team will be back in action once more this regular season with a competition on Friday, May. The Gusties will travel to Stillwater where they will compete in the UW-Eau Claire Quadrangular against UW-Eau Claire, Augsburg, and Bethel at the Stone Ridge Country Club.