Men's Golf News - 2008-09

Matt Skahill to Transfer to SAU

July 1, 2009

St. Ambrose University Men’s Golf Coach Jeff Griebel is excited to announce the signing of one of the top collegiate golfers from the Quad City area.

Matt Skahill has signed a letter of intent and will transfer to St. Ambrose in the fall 2009. Skahill will have two years of athletic eligibility remaining at St. Ambrose. He is a 2007 graduate of Pleasant Valley High School and attended Black Hawk College for two years before transferring to Iowa State University for the 2008-09 school year. He did not compete on the golf team at Iowa State.

Skahill finished sixth at the 2008 National Junior College Athletic Association Division II National Championships and was named NJCAA Division II Second Team All-American. He was also chosen Arrowhead Conference Men’s Golf First Team All-Conference during the 2007-08 season.

“We are very pleased to continue to attract the top golf talent in the Quad City area with the addition of Matt Skahill to our program, “said Coach Griebel. “He is transferring from a great NJCAA Division II program at Black Hawk College and will bring experience and confidence to our team next fall.”

Josh Kunde Signs to Golf at St. Ambrose

July 1, 2009

St. Ambrose University Men’s Golf Coach Jeff Griebel is excited to announce the signing of one of the top high school golfers from Northern Illinois.

Josh Kunde, a senior at Sterling High School (Illinois) has signed a letter of intent and will attend St. Ambrose in the fall 2009.  He is the son of Lorraine and Bradley Kunde of Sterling, Ill.

Kunde had a scoring average of 37.7 his senior year at Sterling High School and was named his high school golf team’s Most Valuable Player. He was also named to the NIC 9 Boys Golf All-Conference Team his senior season. He was medalist in six meets in the fall 2009 finishing third in conference and qualifying for the IHSA Boys Golf State Tournament. He was also selected as the Athlete of the Week by the Sauk Valley News.

“We are very pleased to have a player the caliber of Josh Kunde joining our golf program next season,” said Coach Griebel. “Josh was a two-sport athlete at Sterling High School, also receiving first team all-conference honors in track, and will be a great competitor for our golf program at St. Ambrose.”

Creighton Commits to Golf at St. Ambrose

June 4, 2009

St. Ambrose University is excited to announce the signing of one of the top high school athletes from the Quad City area.

Shane Creighton, a senior at Monmouth-Roseville High School (Illinois) has signed a letter of intent and will play golf at St. Ambrose in the fall 2009. He is the son of Sherrie Creighton of Monmouth, Ill.

Creighton finished 3rd individually at the 2008 IHSAA Class A boy’s golf state tournament and was named IHSAA Class A 1st team All State. He finished 2nd at regional’s and 5th at sectionals his senior year and was named MVP for the Monmouth Roseville boys golf squad.

Creighton was the Olympic Conference Boys Golf individual champion his senior year and was recognized as The Moline Dispatch & Rock Island Argus Quad City Area Player of the Year in Boy’s Golf for 2008/09.

“We are very pleased to have another high profile golfer such as Shane Creighton joining our golf program next season” said St. Ambrose men’s golf coach Jeff Griebel. “He had great success during his high school career in a highly competitive and successful program at Monmouth-Roseville and should be an impact player right away at St. Ambrose.”

Creighton joins Monmouth-Roseville golfer, Ben Gillen, who competed on the varsity golf squad at St. Ambrose this past season.

The photo below shows Shane Creighton signing his letter of intent as St. Ambrose men's golf coach Jeff Griebel, Shane's mother Sherrie and Monmouth-Roseville High School boys golf coach Mark Shrader look on.

Ron Howard in Attendance at NAIA Men's Golf National Tournament

June 3, 2009

Academy Award winning director Ron Howard was in attendance at the recent NAIA Men's Golf National Championships hosted by St. Ambrose University at the TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.

Howard's son, Reed Howard, is a junior at the University of South Carolina-Beaufort. Reed was paired with SAU junior Danny Nelson during the first two rounds of the NAIA National Championships.

Reed finished in a tie for 48th place with a four-round total of 308 (77-79-75-77), and helped South Carolina-Beaufort to a seventh-place team finish.

Pictured at right, St. Ambrose men's golf coach Jeff Griebel welcomes Ron Howard to the Quad Cities and TPC Deere Run during tournament week. Howard stated he enjoyed the hospitality of everyone in the Quad City area.

Drenth Named NAIA and PING First Team All-American

May 23, 2009

After finishing in a tie for 10th at the 2009 NAIA Men's Golf National Championships, St. Ambrose junior Dusty Drenth was named to two All-America First Teams.

Drenth was one of 15 players named to the 2009 NAIA Men's Golf All-American First Team and one of just 10 players named to the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) PING All-America First Team.

The junior from Davenport, Iowa, was earlier named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Men's Golfer of the Year after earning individual medalist honors at three events this year, including the prestigious NAIA Classic at the Brickyard Crossing Golf Club in Indianapolis, Ind.

Drenth averaged a 72.58 through 31 rounds this year.

The complete NAIA All-American team is available here.
The complete GCAA PING All-America Team is available here.

Drenth Finishes in Tie for 10th at NAIA National Championships

May 22, 2009

Video, courtesy TV-11

St. Ambrose junior Dusty Drenth capped a terrific season by finishing in a tie for 10th at the 58th Annual NAIA Men's Golf National Championships. He earned all-tournament team honors with his top-10 finish.

Drenth was steady all week but saved his best round for the end. After shooting rounds of 74-75-75, Drenth fired a 71 to finish with an 11-over-par 295 for the four-round event hosted by St. Ambrose at the TPC @ Deere Run Golf Course in Silvis, Ill.

As a team, St. Ambrose failed to make the cut after the third round and settled for 24th place in the 29-team field. Drenth advanced to the final round based on his individual results.

Patrick Breitbach finished with a 236 (79-80-77), Danny Nelson carded a 238 (79-82-77) and Ben Gillen shot a 252 (81-88-83). After a scoring error in the first round, Adam White shot rounds of 85 and 84 in the second and third rounds.

Oklahoma Christian University led wire-to-wire to win the team title while Sam Cyr of Point Loma Nazarene won individual medalist honors for the second consecutive year.

The 2009 NAIA Men's Golf National Championships were hosted by St. Ambrose University and the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau. The four-round event will also return to TPC @ Deere Run next year.

"The Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission are thrilled with the results of the NAIA Men's Golf Championship," said Lynn Hunt, VP of Tourism Sales for the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau. "The NAIA staff, coaches, athletes, families, and fans were a pleasure to host. The success of this event can only be attributed to the hard work and dedication of our host committee and volunteers that were here throughout the tournament. The outstanding preparation and execution were possible due to the collaborative efforts of St. Ambrose University, the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Lodge Hotel, TPC Deere Run staff, the Iowa Department of Economic Development, and St. Ambrose Alumni. We can't wait to welcome the NAIA back in May 2010."

St. Ambrose Receives Champions of Character Award

May 18, 2009

The St. Ambrose men's golf team received the Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Award at the championship banquet preceding the 2009 NAIA Men's Golf National Championships.

According to the NAIA website, award winners are selected based upon their documented display of exemplary character and sportsmanship on the field, on campus, and in the community. Specifically, fulfillment of the Core Character Values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship are taken into consideration.

St. Ambrose received the award Monday night in the Rogalski Center before hosting the four-day National Championships at the TPC @ Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., starting Tuesday morning.

SAU Hosts NAIA Men's Golf National Championships

May 15, 2009

Live scoring

St. Ambrose will play host at the 58th Annual NAIA Men's Golf National Championships May 19-22 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. Thirty teams and six individuals will make up the 156-player field.

The first round will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a second wave of tee times beginning at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

The Bees will be led by the last two Midwest Collegiate Conference Players of the Year. Senior Adam White, last year's Player of the Year, won two tournaments this year, including the MCC Championships while Drenth won three events en route to this year's conference honor. Danny Nelson, Ben Gillen and Patrick Breitbach round out the SAU team.

More information, including tee times and live scoring, will be available on the NAIA website.

Adam White, Dusty Drenth and head coach Jeff Griebel talk about the upcoming national championships, courtesy TV-11.

Johnson Signs to Golf at St. Ambrose

May 15, 2009

Luke Johnson recently signed his letter of intent to transfer to St. Ambrose University and golf for the Fighting Bees.

Johnson, from Rockford, Ill., will transfer from Rock Valley Junior College. He was the medalist in the fall 2008 NJCAA Region IV Championship and was named the NJCAA Region IV Men's Golfer of the Year for 2008-09.

Luke is pictured below with his parents, Steve and Barb Johnson, and SAU head men's golf coach Jeff Griebel.

Drenth Named MCC Player of the Year

May 11, 2009

Dusty Drenth continued a tradition by earning the Midwest Collegiate Conference Player of the Year award when the conference announced its honors today. A golfer from St. Ambrose has won the award five straight times and in 13 of the last 17 years.

Drenth, a junior from Davenport, Iowa, was the individual medalist at three events this year, including at the prestigious NAIA Classic at the Brickyard Crossing Golf Club in Indianapolis, Ind. He finished third at the MCC Championships.

Drenth is currently the No. 8 ranked player in the individual Golfstat NAIA national rankings and has an average of 72.41 through 27 rounds this year.

“Dusty is most deserving of recognition as the MCC Men’s Golf Player of the Year," said SAU head coach Jeff Griebel. "He has had a fantastic season and is a strong candidate for NAIA All-American status. Dusty should also be a strong contender for medalist honors at the upcoming NAIA Men’s Golf National Tournament.”

Adam White, last year's Player of the Year, joined Drenth on the all-conference first team.

White, a senior from Ottumwa, Iowa, was the individual medalist at the MCC Championships, one of his two first-place finishes. He started the year by winning the Loras Fall Invitational.

White is averaging a 75.30 through 27 rounds.

The pair will lead St. Ambrose as the host school into the 2009 NAIA Men's Golf National Tournament May 19-22 at the TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. St. Ambrose and the Quad City Sports Commission are co-hosting the event.

Drenth Named MCC Golfer of the Week

April 28, 2009

Dusty Drenth was named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Men's Golfer of the Week on Tuesday, April 28, after two strong performances last week. He placed fifth at the Western Illinois Beu Classic and took second at the Mount Mercy Spring Invitational.

Drenth opened with a 71 and followed with an 80 to shoot a 151 at the two-day Beu Classic. He helped the Bees finish 11 in the strong field. The junior fired an eight-under-par 136, including an opening-round 67, to take second at the Mount Mercy Invite. SAU finished second as a team.

Drenth was one of two Bees honored by the MCC. Jeff Gauley was named the conference's baseball player of the week after hitting .526 last week.

Second-Round Charge Leads to Second-Place Finish

April 27, 2009

St. Ambrose shot a 291 in the second round Monday to leapfrog two teams and finish second at the Mount Mercy Spring Invitational at Hunters Ridge Golf Course. The Bees nearly came all the way back to win the five-team event but fell a shot behind Grand View. The Vikings finished with a 585 (288-297) while the Bees carded a 586 (295-291).

After the slow first round, St. Ambrose found itself in fourth-place but was able to overtake Viterbo and Kirkwood for second place.

Dusty Drenth led the way with an eight-under-par 136, surprisingly good for only second place. He followed his first-round 67 with a 69 on Monday. Derrick Meier, of Viterbo, was the individual medalist after firing a 66 on Monday to finish with a 10-under 134.

Ben Gillen finished in a tie for sixth-place with a 148 after shooting a one-under 71 on Monday. Adam White finished with a 151 (74-77), Patrick Breitbach fired a 152 (77-75), Danny Nelson shot a 155 (79-76) and Aaron Pedlar had a 169 (86-83).

The Bees will now wait to host the 2009 NAIA Men's Golf National Championships from May 19-22 at the TPC at Deere Run.

Bees Rebound to Take 11th at WIU Beu Classic

April 21, 2009

A day after claiming its seventh straight Midwest Collegiate Conference championship, the St. Ambrose men's golf team was back on the course Monday. After a bit of a letdown in the first round, the Bees recovered to take 11th place at the 16-team Western Illinois Beu Classic, which was shortened to two rounds due to windy conditions.

After an opening-round 324, the Bees battled back with a 312 on Tuesday for a total of 636. South Dakota State won the tournament with a 600.

Four of the five SAU golfers recorded a better second round. The exception was Dusty Drenth, who opened with a 71 before carding a second-round 80 to finish fifth individually with a 151. Adam White cracked the top 20 with a 154 (81-73), good for 16th place.

Danny Nelson shot a 165 (86-79) and Patrick Breitbach was a shot back with a 166 (86-80). Ben Gillen fired a 175 (89-86).

Adam White Named MCC Golfer of the Week

April 21, 2009

Senior Adam White was named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Men's Golfer of the Week today after winning the MCC Championships individual medalist honors.

White led the conference tournament wire-to-wire and finished with a five-under-par 283 (68-71-73-71). The first two rounds were played in the fall. White's play helped St. Ambrose recover from a three-stroke deficit heading into Sunday's final round.

The Bees have won six straight conference titles and 15 in the last 17 years.

This year, White is averaging a 75.13 through 23 rounds.

White was one of three Bees honored by the MCC. Kelly Jansen was named the conference's women's golfer of the week and Mandy Streu took the award for women's field athlete of the week.

Strong Fourth Round Gives Bees Another MCC Crown

April 19, 2009

Individual medalist Adam White (pictured at right) and Dusty Drenth were named to the all-conference tournament team and St. Ambrose recovered from a third-round scare to win the Midwest Collegiate Conference Championships Sunday at the Oskaloosa Golf Course. The Bees have won six straight MCC titles and 15 in the last 17 years.

The first two rounds of the conference tournament were played in Iowa City, Iowa, in the fall while the final two rounds were played over the weekend in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

White led wire-to-wire and finished with a five-under-par 283 (68-71-73-71). Drenth finished with an even-par 288 (71-71-73-73) to finish third overall.

The pair helped SAU outlast Grand View. Holding an eight-shot lead entering the weekend, the Bees struggled Saturday with a 300. Grand View fired a 289 to grab a three-stroke lead heading into Sunday's final round.

But St. Ambrose erased the deficit with a fourth-round rally. Ben Gillen and Danny Nelson each shot one-under 71s to help the SAU charge. St. Ambrose finished with a 286 on Sunday as Grand View slipped to a 299 to give the Bees another conference championship.

St. Ambrose finished with a four-round total of 1166 (283-297-300-286) to defeat Grand View by 10 strokes. Viterbo took third place in the nine-team event.

Patrick Breitbach also had a strong closing round and finished with a four-round total of 299 (70-79-76-74). Nelson (77-76-78-71) and Gillen (74-79-78-71) each finished with a 302.

After competing at Western Illinois Monday and Tuesday and at Mount Mercy this weekend, St. Ambrose will prepare for the 2009 NAIA Men's Golf National Championships from May 19-22. SAU will host the event at the TPC at Deere Run this year and again in 2010.

Drenth Wins NAIA Classic

April 14, 2009

Dusty Drenth finished with a two-round total of 140 to win individual medalist honors at the prestigious NAIA Classic at the Brickyard Crossing Golf Club in Indianapolis, Ind., on Tuesday.

The St. Ambrose junior fired a second-round 68 after opening with a 72 to earn medalist honors in the 15-team tournament which featured nine teams ranked in the top 25 of the recent NAIA men's golf national rankings.

St. Ambrose finished 13th in the field with a 605. The Bees struggled to recover from a 309 first round. Berry College (Ga.) won the classic with a two-day total of 585.

Danny Nelson finished with a 151 (74-77) while Adam White (81-76) and Ben Gillen (82-75) each shot a 157. Patrick Breitbach added a 161 (82-79).

Pictured, from left to right: NAIA Classic Tournament Director Steve Evans, Tournament Champion Dusty Drenth and St. Ambrose Golf Coach Jeff Griebel.

St. Ambrose Defeats Clarke in Dual

April 14, 2009

Grant Milling fired a 76 to claim individual medalist honors at a dual with Clarke College Tuesday afternoon in Dubuque. He shot a 36 on the front nine before carding a 40 on the back nine to finish with his four-over-par 76.

The Bee golfers took first through fifth places as SAU defeated Clarke 307-346.

Joe Habecker, Brent Anderson and Aaron Pedlar each shot a 77 to finish a shot behind Milling. Jake Schertz finished in a tie for fifth place with an 80.

Patrick Breitbach Named MCC Golfer of the Week

April 14, 2009

Senior Patrick Breitbach was named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Men's Golfer of the Week today after finishing second at the Augustana Invitational over the weekend.

Thanks to an outstanding second round, Breitbach shot an even-par 144 to finish as the runner-up and help St. Ambrose to a second-place finish in the 15-team event. Breitbach, from Urbandale, Iowa (Dowling High School), fired a three-under 69 on Saturday after opening with a 75 on Friday. It was his second-lowest scoring round of the year.

Through 22 rounds this year, Breitbach is averaging a 77.27.

SAU Takes Second at Augustana Invitational

April 11, 2009

Patrick Breitbach and Dusty Drenth finished second and third overall to help St. Ambrose to a second-place finish at the Augustana Invitational on Saturday. The Bees finished with a two-day total of 590 to finish just three shots behind Carthage (587) in the 15-team tournament.

After SAU shot a 305 on the first day, strong play from Breitbach and Drenth helped the Bees fire a 285 on Saturday. Breitbach shot a three-under-par 69 on Saturday to finish second with a 144 total. Drenth finished with a two-under 70 to finish a shot behind his teammate with a 145.

All five Bees enjoyed strong second days. Ben Gillen earned a top-10 finish as he tied for sixth place with a 148 (75-73). Danny Nelson and Adam White each shot a 73 on Saturday. Nelson tied for 16th with a 153 (80-73) while White finished with a 159 (86-73).

Bees Open Spring Season with Fourth-Place Finish

April 5, 2009

The 20th-ranked St. Ambrose men's golf team opened the spring portion of its schedule with a fourth-place showing at the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational at Ironwood Golf Course in Normal, Ill., Saturday.

The Bees shot a two-round 616 (309-307) to share fourth place with Benedictine and Illinois-Springfield. Illinois Wesleyan won the 23-team event with a 584.

Dusty Drenth was the top SAU finisher, placing fourth with a 146. After opening with a 74 on Friday, Drenth fired a 72 on Saturday. Adam White followed a 75 on Friday with a 78 on Saturday for a 153 total. Danny Nelson put back-to-back rounds of 78 together for a 156. Patrick Breitbach shot a 161 (82-79) and Ben Gillen fired a 163 (82-81) for the Bees.

Ryan Sergeant to Follow in Father's Footsteps and Golf at SAU

March 30, 2009

St. Ambrose University Men’s Golf Coach Jeff Griebel is excited to announce the signing of one of the top collegiate golfers from the Quad City area.

Ryan Sergeant, currently a sophomore at Black Hawk College (Ill.), has signed a letter of intent and will transfer to St. Ambrose in the fall 2009. Sergeant will have two years of athletic eligibility remaining at St. Ambrose. He is a 2007 graduate of Moline High School.

Sergeant was named All-Arrowhead Conference Men’s Golf 1st Team in 2008. He was also named to the all-Region IV team in 2008 and 2009. His stroke average in the fall 2008 was 76.2. He was medalist at the 2008 Prairie View Classic and finished ninth at the 2008 St. Ambrose Invitational.

Ryan’s commitment marks a milestone in Coach Jeff Griebel’s career. His father Pete Sergeant, played golf at St. Ambrose for Coach Griebel from 1985 to 1987 and participated in the 1986 NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship in Montgomery, Ala. The St. Ambrose team finished in 17th place that year.

“Ryan Sergeant’s signing with St. Ambrose follows in a tradition that his father began 24 years ago,” said Coach Griebel. “Ryan is as competitive and committed to the sport of golf as his father and he will be a great addition to our program next season.”

Sergeant will be joining a St. Ambrose golf team that has qualified for the NAIA Men’s Golf National Tournament 16 of the last 20 years. St. Ambrose had a school-record third-place team finish in 2004. St. Ambrose will host this year’s NAIA Men’s Golf National Tournament at the TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., May 19-22, 2009.

Pictured, below: Ryan Sergeant signs his letter of intent at a signing ceremony at St. Ambrose on Monday, March 30. Ryan is seated directly in front of his father, Pete Sergeant, for golfed for SAU from 1985-87. Also pictured are Ryan's mother and grandmother and SAU head coach Jeff Griebel.

Steve Marbach to Golf at St. Ambrose

March 30, 2009

St. Ambrose University Men’s Golf Coach Jeff Griebel is excited to announce the signing of one of the top high school golfers from the Chicago area.

Steve Marbach, a senior at Neuqua Valley High School (Illinois), has signed a letter of intent and will attend St. Ambrose in the fall 2009.

Marbach was named Upstate 8 Boys Golf First Team All Conference both his junior and senior seasons. He placed third at regionals in 2008.

Marbach posted a 76.8 stroke average in competitive matches his senior season and was named to the Naperville Sun boys golf “honor roll.”

“Steve Marbach is a very dedicated and experienced player,” said St. Ambrose Coach Jeff Griebel.  “He will continue to improve and be an impact player during his college career at St. Ambrose.”

Marbach will be joining a St. Ambrose golf team that has won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Region 7 Championship and qualified for the NAIA National Golf Tournament ten of the last eleven years.  St. Ambrose had a school-record third-place team finish at the 2004 NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship and finished fourth in 2006. They are currently ranked 20th in the NAIA Men’s Golf National Poll.  St. Ambrose will host this year’s NAIA Men’s Golf National Tournament at the TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., May 19-22, 2009.

Men's Golf Signs Adam Doll

Feb. 6, 2009

St. Ambrose University Men’s Golf Coach Jeff Griebel is excited to announce the signing of one of the top high school golfers from north central Illinois.

Adam Doll, a senior at Spring Valley Hall High School (Illinois) has signed a letter of intent and will attend St. Ambrose in the fall 2009.

Doll was named to the North Central Illinois Boy’s Golf Conference (NCIC) Lincoln Division all conference first team in 2008. He placed second individually in the 2008 NCIC boy’s golf conference tournament.

Doll posted a 39.9 stroke average in competitive matches his senior season and was voted to the Illinois Valley News Tribune First Team. He was also voted the Most Valuable player for the 2008 Hall High School boy’s golf program.

“We are very pleased to have a player the caliber of Adam Doll joining our golf program next season, “ said Coach Griebel. “He will bring experience and confidence to our team next fall.”

Doll will be joining a St. Ambrose golf team that has won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Region 7 Championship and qualified for the NAIA National Golf Tournament ten of the last eleven years. St. Ambrose had a school record 3rd place team finish at the 2004 NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship and finished 4th in 2006. St. Ambrose will be the host school for the 2009 & 2010 NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship Tournament. The 2009 tournament will be held May 19-22 at the TPC @ Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. The St. Ambrose men’s golf team is currently ranked 18th in the NAIA Men’s Golf National Poll.

Fall 2008 Athletic Director Honor Roll Announced

Feb. 4, 2009

St. Ambrose Athletic Director Ray Shovlain announced today members of the Fall 2008 Athletic Director Honor Roll. To be eligible for the award, student-athletes must have had a minimum 3.0 grade-point average in the fall semester.

There were 306 total Fighting Bee student-athletes named to the honor roll. Of the group, 138 had GPAs between 3.0-3.49, 131 had GPAs between 3.5-3.99 and 37 had 4.0 GPAs.

Men’s Golf
Brent Anderson
Zachary Burd
Dustin Drenth
Benjamin Gillen
Alex Larson
Grant Milling
Daniel Nelson
Aaron Pedlar
Jacob Schertz
Paul Sejnoha
Greg Vize
Adam White

SAU Participates in First Tee Program Fundraiser

Jan. 13, 2009

On Friday, January 9th, members of the St. Ambrose men's golf team participated in the Quad Cities Stadium Miniature Golf Tournament held at Modern Woodman Park in Davenport.

This annual tournament raises money for the Quad Cities Chapter of The United State Golf Association (USGA) First Tee Program. The SAU men's golf team donated $300 to the local First Tee Chapter as a hole sponsor.

Tournament officials said the event was a huge success, raising over $2,000 for support of the local chapter of the First Tee.

The First Tee Program administers education programs through local PGA Golf Professionals for junior golfers at sites across the United States. The nine core values of the First Tee Program are:

Honesty - Integrity - Sportsmanship - Respect - Confidence - Responsibility - Perseverance - Courtesy - Judgment.

Bees 18th in Final Fall Rankings

Nov. 12, 2008

St. Ambrose climbed one spot to #18 in the final Golf World/Nike Golf NAIA Coaches' Poll of the fall season. The Bees received 72 points in the poll released on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

Despite earning six of nine first-place votes, defending NAIA National Champion British Columbia fell to #2 in the poll. Oklahoma City, with just two first-place votes, took over the top spot. Oklahoma Christian, Wayland Baptist and Berry round out the top-five.

The complete Golf World/Nike Golf NAIA Coaches' Poll is available at http://www.golfworld.com.

Nelson Named MCC Golfer of the Week

Oct. 28, 2008

Danny Nelson was named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Men's Golfer of the Week and Greg Lehman earned the MCC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honors on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Nelson shot a two-round 155 at the NAIA Preview Invitational hosted by St. Ambrose at TPC @ Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25. He opened with a 75 before shooting an 80 on Saturday to finish eighth overall. Nelson helped the Bees finish ninth in the 15-team field featuring several nationally-ranked teams.

Nelson averaged a 76.38 over 16 rounds this fall.

Lehman scored four goals in helping the SAU men's soccer team go 2-0 last week. He scored one goal in the Bees' 2-1 win at Carthage on Tuesday before coming up with the hat trick in a 5-1 win over Iowa Wesleyan on Saturday. With St. Ambrose trailing 1-0, Lehman scored the game-tying and eventual game-winning goals before finishing the hat trick later in the match.

Lehman has scored 20 goals in helping the Bees to an 11-4 record this season.

SAU Finishes Ninth at NAIA Preview Invitational

Oct. 25, 2008

With a field featuring several of the top teams in the country, St. Ambrose more than held its own at the NAIA Preview Invitational at TPC @ Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. The Bees finished ninth in the 15-team field.

After an opening-round 321, St. Ambrose shot a 317 in the final round to finish with a 638. Danny Nelson led the Bees with a 155 (75-80), good for eighth place. Dusty Drenth fired a 157 (80-77) to finish 13th. Adam White shot a 160 (77-83), Ben Gillen fired a 166 (89-77) and Patrick Breitbach finished with a 180 (89-91).

The St. Ambrose White team took 14th with a 666 (332-334). Jake Schertz led the White team with a 161 (78-83). Brent Anderson (84-81=165), Joe Habecker (83-85=168), Aaron Pedlar (88-85=173) and Grant Milling (87-91=178) also competed for the SAU White team.

Playing as an individual, Trent Emerson shot a 183 (90-93).

Lindenwood won the team title by a stroke. Lindenwood finished with a 630 (309-321) to hold off Lee University and Berry College, who both finished with 631s.

Berry College's Samuel del Val was the individual medalist with a 149 (76-73).

White Named MCC Golfer of the Week

Oct. 21, 2008

Adam White was named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Men's Golfer of the Week and Erica Inendino earned the conference's Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week honors on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

White sits atop the MCC Men's Golf Championship after the two fall rounds. He shot a first-round 68 and followed with a 71 during the second round at Finkbine Golf Club in Iowa City, Iowa. White (68-71=139) is three shots ahead of a pair of golfers tied for second, including teammate Dusty Drenth.

As a team, St. Ambrose (283-297=580) leads Grand View by eight shots. The final two rounds of the MCC Championship will be played in the spring at the Oskaloosa Golf Course in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Inendino saved all eight shots she faced in earning a pair of shutouts last week. She came up with four saves in St. Ambrose's 1-0 win at Grand View on Thursday, Oct. 16, before stopping four shots in the Bees' 2-0 win over William Penn on Saturday, Oct. 18.

The senior goalkeeper has started 12 games for St. Ambrose. After a sluggish start, SAU has climbed to the top of the MCC standings. The Bees are 6-6-2 overall and 6-1 in conference play.

St. Ambrose Prepares to Host NAIA Preview Invitational

Oct. 17, 2008

St. Ambrose University will host the NAIA Men’s Golf Preview Invitational at the Tournament Players Club @ Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., on October 24-25. The first round will get underway at 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, while tee times begin at 8 a.m. for the event’s second round on Saturday, Oct. 25.

The tournament will give teams a first look at TPC @ Deere Run in preparation for the 2009 and 2010 NAIA Men’s Golf National Championships. In conjunction with the Quad City Sports Commission, St. Ambrose will host the next two national tournaments at TPC @ Deere Run. The 2009 tournament will be held May 19-22 and the 2010 tournament will be May 18-21.

The 14-team NAIA Preview Invitational field includes 13 teams currently ranked or receiving votes in the most recent Golf World/Nike NAIA Men’s Golf Coaches’ Association National poll.

Teams Entered:
#4 Point Loma Nazarene (San Diego, Calif.)
#6 Berry College (Mt. Berry, Ga.)
#7 Johnson & Wales University (Miami, Fla.)
#10 Texas Wesleyan University (Fort Worth, Texas)
#13 Lee University (Cleveland, Tenn.)
#14 Davenport University (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
#17 Lindenwood University (St. Charles, Mo.)
#19 St. Ambrose University (Davenport, Iowa)
#21 Shorter College (Rome, Ga.)
Mobile College (Mobile, Ala.) – receiving votes
Indiana Wesleyan University (Marion, Ind.) – receiving votes
Grand View College (Des Moines, Iowa) – receiving votes
Marian College (Indianapolis, Ind.) – receiving votes
Iowa Wesleyan College (Mt. Pleasant, Iowa)

The field will include Sam Cyr, a junior at Point Loma Nazarene, who was the recipient of the 2007-08 Jack Nicklaus Award which recognizes the NAIA Player of the Year. Cyr was the individual champion at the 2008 NAIA National Tournament in Plymouth, Ind., last spring.

Johnson & Wales head coach Dave Adamonis is the father of PGA professional Brad Adamonis, who was the runner-up at the 2008 John Deere Classic played at the TPC at Deere Run over the summer. Brad lost in a sudden-death playoff to Kenny Perry.

SAU 19th in NAIA Coaches' Poll

Oct. 15, 2008

St. Ambrose dropped four spots but remains in the top-20 in the latest Golf World/Nike Golf NAIA Coaches' Poll. The Bees check in at #19 with 65 points in the poll released on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Defending NAIA National Champion British Columbia remains in the top spot, earning eight of nine first-place votes. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Christian, Point Loma Nazarene and Wayland Baptist round out the top-five.

St. Ambrose will close the fall portion of its schedule by hosting the NAIA Preview Invitational at the TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., on Oct. 24-25. The 14-team field will feature nine teams ranked in the top-25.

The complete Golf World/Nike Golf NAIA Coaches' Poll is available at http://www.golfworld.com.

Bees Open Eight-Shot Lead at MCC Championships

Oct. 14, 2008

St. Ambrose leads the Midwest Collegiate Conference Championships by eight strokes after the first two rounds at Finkbine Golf Club in Iowa City, Iowa, on Monday and Tuesday.

The Bees came out of the gates quickly, firing a 283 on Monday. Adam White shot a 68, Patrick Breitbach fired a 70 and Dusty Drenth carded a 71 as SAU grabbed a 14-shot advantage over Viterbo.

Grand View, after an opening-round 298, made its move Tuesday with a 290 to take second place with a 588. SAU slipped back a little with a second round 297 for a 580 total.

White remains atop the leaderboad with a 139 (68-71), three shots ahead of a pair of golfers tied for second, including Drenth (71-71=142). Breitbach is tied for seventh with a 149 (70-79). Danny Nelson (77-76=153) and Ben Gillen (74-79=153) are in a group tied for 15th.

The final two rounds of the four-round MCC Championships will be contested at Oskaloosa Golf Course in Oskaloosa, Iowa, in April.

Drenth Takes Second After Playoff at Ronnie Eastman Invite

Oct. 6, 2008

Dusty Drenth lost individual medalist honors after a two-hole playoff at the Ronnie Eastman Invitational hosted by Viterbo on Sunday and Monday. After a first-round 75, Drenth shot a 71 on Monday to force the playoff he eventually lost to Iowa Wesleyan's Adam Lindsay.

Danny Nelson was 13th overall with a 153 total (78-75). Adam White took 15th with a 155 (79-76). Patrick Breitbach shot a 157 (79-78) and Ben Gillen fired a 160 (81-79) for the Bees. Playing as an individual, Jake Schertz shot a 162 (83-79).

St. Ambrose finished fourth in the 15-team tournament with a 611 (311-300). UW-Eau Claire won a two-hole playoff against Viterbo to take the team title.

Drenth, White Finish First and Second at Oktoberfest

Sept. 29, 2008

Dusty Drenth beat teammate Adam White in a playoff to win individual medalist honors at the Clarke Oktoberfest Men's Golf Tournament on Monday. Drenth and White shot identical 144s at the two-day tournament at Thunder Hills Country Club in Peosta, Iowa. They each opened with a 71 on Sunday before finishing with a 73 on Monday. The pair helped St. Ambrose win the event with a 592. Viterbo finished second with a 610.

Ben Gillen added a top-10 finish for the Bees with a 151 (74-77) to take seventh. Danny Nelson finished 11th overall with a 153 (74-79) and Patrick Breitbach was 13th with a 156 (76-80).

Bees Remain #15 in NAIA Coaches' Poll

Sept. 26, 2008

St. Ambrose maintained its #15 national ranking in the second Golf World/Nike Golf NAIA Coaches' Poll of the fall season released on Thursday, Sept. 25. The Bees received 111 points.

Preseason #1 and defending NAIA National Champion British Columbia remained in the top spot after receiving nine of the 11 first-place votes. Oklahoma City earned the other two first-place votes to stay second while Oklahoma Christian is third in the poll.

Eleven of the top-25 teams in the country will be participating in the NAIA Preview Invitational at the TPC at Deere Run hosted by St. Ambrose on Oct. 24-25. Joining SAU in the field will be #4 Point Loma Nazarene, #5 Berry, #8 Texas Wesleyan, #9 Johnson & Wales, #12 Southern Nazarene, #13 Lee, #16 Lindenwood, #18 Davenport, #22 Mobile and #23 Shorter.

SAU is slated to host the NAIA Men's Golf National Championship Tournaments at the TPC at Deere Run in the spring of 2009 and 2010. The 2009 event will by May 19-22.

The complete Golf World/Nike Golf NAIA Coaches’ Poll is available at http://www.golfworld.com.

SAU Takes Ninth at 24-Team Lindenwood Invitational

Sept. 24, 2008

Dusty Drenth finished ninth with a 219 as St. Ambrose took ninth in the 24-team Lindenwood Invitational. The three-round event was played at the Crescent Farms Golf Course in St. Louis, Mo.

The Bees opened with a 309 on Sunday and fired a 295 on Monday. Four of the five Bee golfers had their best round of the tournament Monday. SAU shot a 302 on the final day to finish with a 906. Davenport University won the invitational with an 884.

After opening with a 76, Drenth shot a two-under par 70 and a one-over par 73 in the final two rounds for his 219. Adam White finished 27th overall with a 227 (78-74-75). Ben Gillen fired a 233 (77-74-82), Patrick Breitbach carded a 235 (78-77-80) and Danny Nelson shot a 237 (79-84-74) for St. Ambrose. Trevor Bowman, of Cedarville University, was the individual medalist with a 211 (71-72-68).

Drenth Honored as MCC Golfer of the Week

Sept. 17, 2008

Dusty Drenth was named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Men's Golfer of the Week on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

The junior from Davenport, Iowa (Bettendorf High School) helped St. Ambrose win two events last week. He took individual medalist honors with a four-under 68 at the St. Ambrose Invitational on Sunday, Sept. 7. The following weekend, Drenth shot a four-under 140 to take second at the Cropper Golf Classic. He finished one shot behind the medalist.

So far in the fall, Drenth has earned a top-five finish in all three events he has played. He is averaging a 70.75 through four rounds.

Bees Win at St. Francis Fall Classic

Sept. 17, 2008

Thanks to a strong finish, the Fighting Bees shot a 292 to win the St. Francis Fall Classic by two shots over host school on Tuesday. Four of the five SAU golfers birdied the par-4 18th hole as St. Ambrose slipped past St. Francis (294).

Brent Anderson finished third individually with a 71. Joe Habecker added a sixth-place finish with a 72. Jake Schertz fired a 74 and Grant Milling and Aaron Pedlar each shot a 75.

Drenth and Breitbach Finish Second-Third at Mount Mercy Classic

Sept. 14, 2008

Dustry Drenth finished with a four-under 140 while teammate Patrick Breitbach carded a two-under 142 to help the Bees win the Mount Mercy Cropper Golf Classic on Sunday. Drenth opened with a 71 on Saturday before finishing with a 69 to take second overall, one shot behind the individual medalist. Breitbach tied for third after rounds of 70 and 72.

St. Ambrose trailed Lindenwood by four shots entering the final round. But the Bees combined for a 289 on Sunday for a total of 580 to defeat Lindenwood by three strokes. Illinois Wesleyan finished third.

Adam White rebounded from a 77 on Saturday to post a 72 on Sunday and finished 20th. Danny Nelson and Ben Gillen tied for 30th with 151s.

The SAU White team took 12th in the 24-team tournament. Joe Habecker led the Bees with a 149. Grant Milling (155), Jake Schertz (156), Brent Anderson (157) and Aaron Pedlar (163) also competed for St. Ambrose.

Bees Win Rain-Shortened St. Ambrose Invite

Sept. 8, 2008

Dusty Drenth fired a 68 to win medalist honors at the St. Ambrose Invitational at Emeis Golf Course. Rains on Monday forced the cancellation of the tournament's second round so the event was shortened to 18 holes.

Adam White shot a 70 to finish fourth overall as St. Ambrose won the 16-team tournament with a 287. Iowa Wesleyan and Grand View tied for second with 293s. Patrick Breitbach carded a 74 and Danny Nelson and Ben Gillen each shot a 75 for the Bees.

Jake Schertz matched Drenth with a 68 to lead the St. Ambrose White team. Schertz took second through a tiebreaker. Joe Habecker and Brent Anderson finished with 79s. Grant Milling shot an 80 and Matt Sanders fired an 82 as the White team finished in a tie for sixth place.

Paul Sejnoha (74), Trent Emerson (75), Nicholas Heiar (76), Alex Larson (76), Aaron Pedlar (77), Brandon Seydel (79), Greg Vize (81) and Zachary Burd (82) competed as individuals for St. Ambrose.

Complete results are available here.

White and Jansen Named MCC Golfers of the Week

Sept. 7, 2008

St. Ambrose seniors Adam White and Kelly Jansen were named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Men's and Women's Golfer of the Week on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

White fired a 71 to win the Loras College Fall Invitational by two shots on September 2. He followed that by carding a 70 to finish fourth at the St. Ambrose Invitational on Sunday, Sept. 7. The Fighting Bees won both tournaments.

Jansen started the women's fall season by winning individual medalist honors in her first two tournaments. She shot a 76 at the Mount Mercy Invitational on August 29 and finished with a 75 at the Augustana Triangular on August 31 as the Queen Bees won both events. Jansen continued her strong play by placing second at the Wartburg Fall Invitational with a two-round total of 156.

St. Ambrose Wins Loras Fall Invite by 20 Strokes

Sept. 2, 2008

Adam White was the individual medalist as St. Ambrose won the Loras College Fall Invitational by 20 shots. White shot a one-under par 71 to hold off teammate Danny Nelson, who finished second with a one-over 73.

Dusty Drenth and Patrick Breitbach shot matching 75s to tie for fifth place. Freshman Ben Gillen shot a 79. The Bees finished with a 294. Iowa Wesleyan was second with a 314.

The St. Ambrose White team took fourth overall. Jake Schertz led the way with a 78 while Matt Sanders shot a 79. Joe Habecker fired an 80, Grant Milling shot an 81 and Brent Anderson finished with an 82.

Bees Finish Second by a Single Shot

Aug. 29, 2008

St. Ambrose finished a single shot behind Kirkwood at the Duane Chanay Invitational at the Byron Hills Golf Club in Port Byron, Illinois. The Bees finished with a 286 and Kirkwood carded a 285 in the 18-team tournament.

SAU senior Patrick Breitbach was the individual medalist, firing a 66. Danny Nelson and Ben Gillen each shot a 72, Jake Schertz finished with a 76 and Grant Milling added a 78.

SAU Men’s Golf Team Ranked 15th in NAIA Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Aug. 28, 2008

The St. Ambrose University men’s golf team is ranked 15th in the Golf World/Nike Golf NAIA Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Fighting Bees received 88 points in the poll released on Wednesday, Aug. 27.

British Columbia, the defending NAIA National Champion, received six of the nine first-place votes to sit atop the poll. Oklahoma City picked up two first-place votes and is second in the poll while Oklahoma Christian received the other first-place vote and is third. Point Loma Nazarene and Berry round out the top five.

St. Ambrose will host 10 of the top 21 teams in the preseason ranking at the NAIA Preview Invitational at the TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., October 24-25.

In the spring of 2009 and 2010, SAU will host the NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship Tournaments at the TPC Deere Run in collaboration with the Quad Cities Sports Commission and the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau. This year’s event will be May 19-22.

The Fighting Bees men’s golf team, which finished 14th in the nation last year, will open the 2008 fall season by competing in the Loras College Fall Invitational on September 2.

The complete Golf World/Nike Golf NAIA Preseason Coaches’ Poll is available at http://www.golfworld.com.

Dusty Drenth Wins QC Amateur Tour Player of the Year Award

Aug. 25, 2008

Dusty Drenth capped a strong summer of golf by winning the Quad City Amateur Tour Player of the Year award on Sunday, Aug. 24. The St. Ambrose junior competed in six of the eight Tour tournaments, winning three times and finishing in the top-three two other times.

"It is a phenomenal accomplishment," said Drenth. "There are a lot of great players but this shows that my hard work paid off."

"It is an unbelievable accomplishment," said St. Ambrose head coach Jeff Griebel. "This speaks of his hard work and dedication to the game."

While earning Second Team All-American honors by helping the Fighting Bees to a 14th-place finish at the 2008 NAIA Men's Golf National Tournament, Drenth missed the Quad City Amateur Tour's opening tournament at Hawthorne Ridge.

He took third at the Quad City Amateur and finished second at the Riverboat Days Amateur before reeling off three straight tournament wins. Drenth won the Short Hills Amateur, the Palmer Hills Amateur and the Glynns Creek Amateur to find himself atop the points race.

He held on to Player of the Year honors with his eighth-place finish at the Tour Championship at TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., on Sunday, Aug. 24.

"I've always just enjoyed playing. I had never even won a tournament heading into this year, so it never occurred to me that I could be the Player of the Year" said Drenth. "Then I won at Short Hills and that just opened another door for me. Then I won at Palmer Hills and it was like, 'Wow, I have a chance.' "

Drenth will now captain the Iowa side in the Hasley Cup competition at Short Hills Country Club on Sept. 5-6. He will be responsible for setting the pairings, making two captains picks, and ordering the shirts. Drenth will also compete at the John Deere Classic Qualifier at Pinnacle Country Club.

Chris Wilkins and Ben Peters, who finished second and third in the Player of the Year standings, are 1995 SAU graduates.

Men's Coach Jeff Griebel Named to GCAA National Advisory Board

St. Ambrose University men's golf coach Jeff Griebel has been appointed to represent the NAIA on the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) National Advisory Board. Griebel began his duties as the NAIA Representative on July 1. Griebel replaced David Lynn, who recently resigned as head coach at Oklahoma Christian, and will fill the position until a new member is elected at the GCAA National Convention in January 2009.

Griebel, who will begin his 27th season at St. Ambrose this fall, has been named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Men's Golf Coach of the Year 14 times and the NAIA Midwest Region VII Coach of the Year 18 times.

During his tenure at St. Ambrose, Griebel has coached eight First Team All-Americans. The Fighting Bees placed 14th at the NAIA Men's Golf National Tournament in the spring of 2008.

Griebel is a past president of the NAIA Men's Golf Coaches Association and the current chair of the NAIA Men's Golf Midwest Region VII and Midwest Classic Conference. He is a recipient of the Bob Fry Award from the Iowa Section PGA of America, and was inducted into the St. Ambrose University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.

St. Ambrose University and the Quad City Sports Commission will host the 2009 & 2010 NAIA Men's Golf National Championship at the Tournament Players Club @ Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. The 2009 tournament will be held May 19-22. The 2010 tournament will be held May 18-21.