Johnnies rally in final round, finish sixth at national meet
May 17, 2013
DESTIN, Fla. - The Saint John's University golf team played a strong final round and finished sixth at the NCAA Division III tournament Friday, May 17 at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
The Johnnies finished with a team total of 1,199, beating fellow MIAC member Gustavus Adolphus by a single stroke. The University of Texas at Tyler won the tournament, with a 1,167 total.
Saint John's, which started the final round in 10th place in the team competition, moved up thanks to its second-best team round of the tournament. The Johnnies carded a 294 total Friday, bettered only by its 292 total in the first round Tuesday, May 14.
The Johnnies' Dennis Granath (Bandhagen, Sweden/Farsta Gymnasium) shot a 3-under-par round of 68 on the par-71 The Raven course Friday and ended up in a 10th place tie in the individual competition with Ben Fister of Transylvania University (Kent.). Both players recorded 292 totals.
It was Granath's second sub-par round in the tournament. The senior shot a 69 in the first round.
The tournament's medalist was Brad Shigezawa of Claremont Mudd Scripps, who carded a 2-under-par total of 283. He was the only player under par for the tournament.
SJU junior Casey Vangsness (Alexandria, Minn.) finished tied for 22nd with a total of 298, and sophomore Drew Lynch (Stillwater, Minn.) finished tied for 36th at 302. Junior Tommy Koehler (Eden Prairie, Minn.) finished tied for 48th with a 308 total, and sophomore Derek Brinker (St. Michael, Minn./Heritage Academy, Fla.) was in 77th with a 325 total.
For more information, visit gojohnnies.com.