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St. Cloud State University
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Husky golfers take first in tourney
By Derek Sullivan
Published:
Monday, April 26, 2004
SCSU men's golf team made history last weekend, and next weekend the squad hopes to earn a trip to the NCAA Division II National Tournament.
The Huskies won the Northwest Region Spring Head to Head Tournament April 20 in Lincoln, Neb. The victory helped SCSU earn the number one seed in the NCAA Division II Super Regional May 3-5 in Bellingham, Wash.
SCSU (899 points) won the Northwest Regional by one stroke over North Central Conference Rival North Dakota State (900) and two strokes over Minnesota State-Mankato (901).
Junior Chris Little placed third. The Elk River native finished one stroke behind Fort Lewis College junior Bobby Foster and Nebraska-Kearney sophomore Greg Davis. Foster defeated Davis in a playoff to claim the title.
Senior Brett Swedberg shot 222, good enough for sixth place. Freshman Josh Hagstrom (225) placed 16th, while seniors Pete Jameson (238) and Bob Gartland (243) placed 51st and 58th respectively.
Veteran SCSU golfers Little, Jameson and Gartland qualified for Super Regionals for the first time. Jameson said SCSU adding a couple of new golfers played a major role.
"It is frustrating to have two good golfers but not have any depth," Jameson said. "Now with Josh and Brett coming in, we have the depth to get to Nationals."
Swedberg, a University of Toledo transfer, established himself as one of the NCC's premiere golfers. Swedberg won the first place medal April 5 at University of South Dakota Invitational and April 12 at the Minnesota State-Mankato Invitational. Jameson said Swedberg's presence has helped improve everyone's overall game.
"Everybody's game has stepped up since he has been here," Jameson said. "We all want to beat him, not just in tournaments, but in practice."
Hagstrom beat out fellow first- year golfers Tanner Brown, Danny Anderson and Brian Roberts to earn a spot in SCSU's top five. Consistency proved a major weapon for the freshman from Atwater, currently head coach Judi Larkin's number three golfer.
"Josh has been consistently in the top 15," Jameson said. "He shoots everywhere from 72 to 74 every single time, which is awesome."
Hagstrom quickly noticed a major difference between high school golf and Division II golf.
"Last year, I shot a 74 and I would win the golf tournament," Hagstrom said. "This year, all the top golfers shoot that."
All year, SCSU counted on Swedberg and Little to lead the Huskies. The two all-conference golfers delivered consistently.
"(Swedberg) always shoots a low score," Jameson said. "He and Chris always shot a low score, and that is what you need out of your top two."
When the Huskies arrive in Washington next weekend, they will also need a solid effort from the freshmen if they want to advance to Nationals.
"When you want to win tournaments, the three-man (Hagstrom) is the one who usually decides the winner," Jameson said.
Hagstrom said he feels little pressure about being the swing golfer in his first postseason tournament. A strong performance could send SCSU to Nationals May 12-15 in Orlando, Fla.
"I haven't felt any pressure," Hagstrom said. "I've been pretty smooth about it."
NCC rivals University of South Dakota (seeded second), North Dakota State University (third) and Minnesota State-Mankato (fourth) join the Huskies in Washington. Rocky Mountain Conference schools Fort Lewis University, Colorado State-Pueblo, Colorado State-Colorado Springs and Nebraska-Kearney round out the field.
Hagstrom expects NDSU and Minnesota State Mankato to challenge top-seeded SCSU.
"Mankato and NDSU are really solid teams," Hagstrom said. "They are pretty solid one through five."
The West/Northwest Super Regional will be played at the 6,523-yard, par-72 Bellingham Golf and Country Club.
The course, established in 1912, includes plenty of forest, dozens of bunkers and three water holes. Jameson said SCSU should compete well on the famous Northwest course.
"It is a shorter, tight golf course," Jameson said. "The course fits all of our games."
Placing in the top two at Super Regionals qualifies the Huskies for Nationals. Earning a trip to Orlando remains the Huskies' number one goal. Jameson said putting SCSU golf on the map adds a little extra thrill.
"It's exciting because no one even knows we have a golf team at SCSU," Jameson said. "It feels good to get this point, after working so hard the previous years."
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