Golfers Win Second Straight NCAA Title

The SJU golf team came from behind to win the NCAA Division III national championship for the second time in a row on Friday, May 16, at the Chateau Elan Resort in Braselton, GA. They became the first team to repeat as national champion since Methodist won six straight national titles from 1994-99.

The University of Redlands placed second with a 1,195 total, with St. John Fisher College placing third with 1,199. St. John Fisher was the team leader heading into the final day of competition on the resort's Chateau Course.

The late heroics came at an opportune time for the Johnnies, who were 14th after the first day of competition and fourth after the second round. Saint John's was playing in its ninth consecutive national tournament.

Saint John's was led individually by junior Joe Schoolmeesters of Litchfield, MN, who placed sixth individually with a 294 total. He shot an even-par round of 71 Friday - his best round of the tournament - and improved his score each day (76-74-73-71).

Senior Matt Bohlig (Eagan, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall H.S.) finished in a tie for 10th place with a 297 total with a 74 Friday. After posting an 83 on the first day of competition, he played the final three days 1-over-par.

Junior Joey Polingo (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield H.S.) and junior Joe Daly (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna H.S.) finished in a tie for 19th place with 301 totals. Polingo had a 2-under-par round of 69 Friday, while Daly shot a 77 in the final round.

Senior Clinton Dammann (Glencoe, Minn./Glencoe-Silver Lake H.S.) rounded out the Johnnies with a 319 total. Dammann was the 2007 medalist at the national tournament.

The individual medalist was Scott Harris Jr. of St. John Fisher, who had a 1-over-par total of 285.