Men’s golf wins 2018 NSIC, 4th consecutive championship

Aaron Young
Staff Writer

Minnesota State continues to be at the top of its conference once again, as the team won the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Golf Championship this past weekend in Smithville, Mo.

Outlasting nine other teams, the Mavericks received a plaque for the fourth straight season and have been victors of the conference eight of the past ten seasons.

After being in the driver’s seat going into the final day of the tournament, the team continued their success, clinching the NSIC title over its inter-conference rivals.

The Mavericks had a three-stroke lead over Augustana and prevailed in the end with a 54-hole score of 907. Winona State was the runner-up with 910 and St. Cloud State third 915. Both Concordia St. Paul and Bemidji St. tied for fifth at 918.

Junior J.J Svac finished the competition in fifth place and earned All-NSIC honors. The top Maverick performer shot a total of 223, with rounds of 80m, 69 and 74.

Senior Kelton Schmitz was the other top-10 finisher for the Mavericks. The senior shot rounds of 78, 75 and 73, for a total of 226. Bryce Thompson shot well enough to stay in the top 15. The sophomore drove up rounds of 78, 73, and 77, finishing only two behind Schmidt.

Other Mavericks worth mentioning are junior Matt Bennett and sophomore Ethan Kraus. Bennett had rounds of 78, 75, and 77. Kraus capped off the lineup with rounds of 81, 77, and 81.

This victory gives the golf team a guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Division II Central/Midwest Regional Tournament. on May 7 and May 9  in Findlay, Ohio at the Findlay Country Club.