Apr. 23, 2007

COLD SPRING, Minn. (Rich Spring Golf Club) -- The Bemidji State University men's golf team finished in fifth place Sunday at the St. John's University Spring Invitational. The Beavers carded a two-round total of 606 (+30), 28 strokes off hosting St. John's, at the par-72, 6,504-yard Rich Spring Golf Course in Cold Spring, Minn.

Individually BSU's Clint Cornell (So., Grand Rapids, Minn.) cruised into the second round of the 38-hole event alone in first place after carding a 70 (-2). He would slide into a tie for eighth place posting a 77 (+5) on the final 18 holes to finish at three-over-par, 147. Mitch Mackedanz (So., Paynesville, Minn.) also found himself at the top of the heap using rounds of 73 (+1) and 76 (+4) to cap the event locked in a tie for 15th place with two others at 149 (+5).

The Johnnies held a 20-shot lead over the rest of the field recording matching 289-289--578 to finish the tournament at two-over-par. St. Cloud State University captured second place (302-296--598), just one stroke ahead of the University of St. Thomas (292-307--599). Gustavus Adolphus College nipped the Beavers in round two shaving 10 shots off its first-round score to edge BSU for fourth place at 303-299--602.

Rounding out the field in the team competition were: Minnesota State University (305-304--609), Edgewood College (305-307--612), Bethel College (303-315--618), St. Olaf College (316-317--633), Macalester College (319-324--643), College of St. Mary (323-335--658) and Carleton College (342-333--675).

Bemidji State also fielded an additional team that wound up in what would have been 16th place but only one team score from each institution is considered in the final results.

The Beavers, ranked fifth in the Central Region, now put post-season hopes in the hands of the NCAA regional committee. An announcement is expected this week extending team and individual invitations to the NCAA Division II Super Regionals.

Eight teams from each of the ten regions are selected by the NCAA to compete in super regional tournaments the with champions for each super regional moving on to the NCAA Division II Championship May 22-25 at The Meadows in Allendale, Michigan.

BSU has competed in the past two Central/Great Lakes Regional Tournaments and an invitation in 2007 would send Beavers to Twin Hills Golf and Country Club in Joplin, Missouri May 7-9.

St. John's University Spring Invitational Final Team Scores
1. Saint John's, 289-289--578 (+2)
2. St. Cloud State, 302-296--598 (+22)
3. St. Thomas, 292-307--599 (+23)
4. Gustavus Adolphus, 303-299--602 (+26)
5. Bemidji State, 297-309--606 (+30)
6. Minnesota State Mankato, 305-304--609 (+33)
7. Edgewood College 305 307 612 +36
8. Bethel, 303-315--618 (+42)
9. St. Olaf, 316-317--633 (+57)
10. Macalester 319 324 643 +67
11. Saint Mary's, 323-335--658 (+82)
12. Carleton, 342-333--675 (+99)

Bemidji State Individual Results
8. Clint Cornell, 70-77--147 (+3)
15. Mitch Mackedanz, 73-76--149 (+5)
T-35. Neil Rude, 74-82--156 (+12)
T-35. Jared Stull, 75-81--156 (+12)
T-58. Michael Abrahamson, 80-79--159 (+15)
T-66. Marcus Matz, 80-81--161 (+17)
T-71. Jeff Peltier, 85-77--162 (+18)
T-71. Adam McArthur, 76-86--162 (+18)
T-81. Aric Hansen, 81-84--165 (+21)
99. Jeff McBride, 98-89--187 (+43)

--bsu--