Men's Golf News - 2009-10

Sergeant Named MCC Men's Golfer of the Week

Nov. 9, 2009

Junior Ryan Sergeant was named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Men's Golfer of the Week today after his showing at the University of Mobile Fall Invitational.

After opening the three-round tournament with a 78, Sergeant fired back-to-back rounds of 76 to finish 16th overall with a 230 total. He helped the Bees to a fifth-place showing in the team's final event of the fall.

This season, Sergeant averaged a 75.83 over 12 fall rounds.

Sergeant was one of three Bees to be recognized by the conference, joining John Darmody (men's cross country) and Ashley Dexter (women's soccer offensive).

Bees Close Fall with Fifth-Place Finish

Nov. 3, 2009

St. Ambrose closed the fall portion of its season with a fifth-place finish at the University of Mobile Fall Classic. The Bees shot a three-round total of 927 at Heron Lakes Country Club in Mobile, Ala.

Ryan Sergeant was the top SAU golfer, finishing in a tie for 16th place with a 230. He opened with a 78 before shooting back-to-back rounds of 76. Jake Schertz was just two shots behind Sergeant with a 232 (75-78-79) to tie for 20th overall.

After shooting an 81 and an 80, Dusty Drenth recovered to card a final-round 73 to finish 26th with a 234. Grant Milling shot a 236 (76-81-79) and Danny Nelson fired a 238 (77-81-80) for St. Ambrose.

Lindenwood won the 12-team event with an 883.

Drenth Named MCC Golfer of the Week

Oct. 19, 2009

Senior Dusty Drenth was named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Men's Golfer of the Week today along with Grand View's Josh Manske after the pair tied for third place individually at the NAIA Preview Invitational last week.

Drenth, from Davenport, Iowa, shot an even-par 71 on Thursday before following that with a 74 Friday for a two-round total of 145. He led SAU to a fifth-place showing in the 17-team event that featured nine teams ranked in the top 25.

This year, Drenth is averaging a 72.38 through 13 fall rounds. He has five top-three finishes, including winning individual medalist honors at the Clarke Fall Invitational. He has been named the MCC Men's Golfer of the Week three times this year.

Drenth was one of four SAU student-athletes to be recognized by the MCC. Lauren Aderman (setter), Jackie DalCerro (libero) and Megan O'Shea (player) won the three weekly volleyball awards.

SAU Finishes Fifth at NAIA Preview Invitational

Oct. 15, 2009

St. Ambrose hosted the NAIA Preview Invitational at TPC @ Deere Run on Oct. 15-16. The 16-team field featured nine teams ranked in the top 25.

Final results

St. Ambrose, led by Dusty Drenth's third-place effort, finished fifth with a two-round total of 605. Drenth fired a three-over 145 for third place individually.

The Bees started strong, shooting a 295 on Thursday to sit in second place, just three shots behind Texas Wesleyan. But Friday's scores were higher as the winds picked up. SAU shot a 310 for the 605 total. Oklahoma City University shot a 294 Friday to overtake Texas Wesleyan for the team championship. Oklahoma City finished with a 594 (300-294) to beat Texas Wesleyan (292-307) by five shots.

Behind Drenth, Grant Milling shot back-to-back rounds of 76 to finish 19th with a 152. Danny Nelson (77-77) and Ryan Sergeant (71-83) finished in a tie for 29th with 154s. Matt Skahill carded a 161 (77-84).

A second SAU team, led by Jake Schertz and Brent Anderson, finished ninth. After an opening-round even-par 71, Schertz shot a 78 Friday to finish ninth overall with a 149. Just a shot back, Anderson tied for 10th with a 150 (73-77). Johnson (79-75) matched Nelson and Sergeant with a 154. Ben Gillen (81-85=166) and Zach Burd (82-85=167) also played for the SAU White team.

Playing as an individual, Joe Habecker shot a 74 Friday to finish 46th with a 156 (82-74).

SAU to Host 2011 NAIA Men's Golf National Championships

Oct. 14, 2009

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is proud to announce a one-year extension of the NAIA Men’s Golf National Championships to be hosted by St. Ambrose University (Iowa) and the Quad Cities Sports Commission. The 2011 event is scheduled to take place May 24-27 at the TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. The NAIA and these two parties began their agreement in 2009 at the TPC Deere Run when Oklahoma Christian led from start-to-finish to take home its’ first NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship.

The 59th annual Championships is scheduled for May 18-21, 2010. The Championships consist of four rounds and one practice round with a maximum of 156 golfers and a minimum of 140 golfers. There are approximately 29-30 teams and 8-10 individual qualifiers.

“We are excited to extend our agreement with St. Ambrose and the Quad Cities through 2011,” said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. “We are fortunate to have an institution and a community that value the NAIA and character-driven intercollegiate athletics. Through their hard work and commitment, they provide a terrific environment for our student-athletes and their supporters.”

The Quad Cities Sports Commission (QCSC) serves Davenport/Bettendorf, Iowa and Rock Island/Moline, Ill., and the surrounding communities and region. The TPC Deere Run is a PGA Tour facility. This course is the first PGA-recognized facility the Championships have been held at since 1999.

“The Quad Cities Sports Commission and St. Ambrose University are extremely proud to receive the extension for the NAIA Men’s Golf Championships in 2011 after a mutually successful event in 2009,” said Lynn Hunt, Vice President of Sales, Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We are looking forward to improving on the student-athletes’ experience during the 2010 Championships, and being able to build again for 2011 is very exciting. There are many partners working in the Quad Cities to make sure the NAIA wants to continue to come back and play a world class course like TPC Deere Run.”

The QCSC has hosted a variety of golf championship-caliber events including the American Junior Golf Association Championships and the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Golf Championships. Also, the Quad Cities Marathon, Triathlon, the Women's NIC Softball Tournament, ASA National Girl's Championship (2004, 2006) and the Mid Continent Conference Men's Basketball Tournament have all been organized by the QCSC.

“The experience and treatment the NAIA golfer received last year playing the TPC Deere Run makes it easy to want to stay,” said Kristin Gillette, NAIA Manager of Championship Sports. “We are glad to have the opportunity to extend the contract to play there in 2011.”

There are 180 NAIA schools that currently sponsor a varsity men's golf program.

Men's Golf was added as a championship sport in 1952 with Abilene, Texas, serving as the first site. North Texas State was the inaugural champion shooting a team total 1,123. In the history of the sport, there have been 28 national team champions.

To learn more about the NAIA and the NAIA Men’s Golf National Championships visit www.naia.org or contact Kristin Gillette at kgillette@naia.org.

Bees Take Third at Ronnie Eastman Invitational

Oct. 5, 2009

Dusty Drenth shot a 145 to take second place at the Ronnie Eastman Invitational. He helped St. Ambrose to a third-place showing.

Drenth opened with a 70 before firing a 75 Monday to finish a single shot behind the individual medalist. Ryan Sergeant finished in a tie for eighth place with a 149 total (76-73). The pair led SAU to a 605 (303-302), good for third in the 14-team field. UW-Eau Claire won with a 591 (286-305) and host Viterbo took second with a 600 (305-295).

Danny Nelson carded a 76 on Sunday before finishing with a 79 for a 155 total to place 17th. Grant Milling shot a 157 (81-76) and Ben Gillen fired a 161 (83-78).

SAU will host the NAIA Preview Invitational at TPC @ Deere Run next Thursday and Friday.

Strong Third Round Salvages Ninth Place

Sept. 29, 2009

After two lackluster rounds, St. Ambrose recovered to fire a third-round 297, the best of the tournament, to earn a share of ninth place at the 20-team Lindenwood Fall Invitational Tuesday.

The Bees were in 14th place after putting together rounds of 325 and 330. But led by Danny Nelson's 71, SAU shot a 297 to climb into the top-half of the field. St. Ambrose finished with a three-round total of 952 to share ninth place with Marian. Grand View won the invitational with a 908.

Nelson and Ben Gillen were the top SAU golfers, finishing in a four-way tie for 18th with 233s. Nelson improved each round, going from an 83 to a 79 to his final-round 71. Gillen, playing as an individual, was consistent throughout, putting together back-to-back rounds of 78 before ending with a 77.

Dusty Drenth sandwiched rounds of 78 and 73 around an 86 to take a share of 34th place with a 237. Matt Skahill shot a 241 (80-82-79), Luke Johnson had a 245 (84-87-74) and Jake Schertz added a 250 (86-83-81).

SAU will compete in the Ronnie Eastman Invitational in Onalaska, Wis., Oct. 4-5.

Drenth Named MCC Golfer of the Week after Record Week

Sept. 28, 2009

Senior Dusty Drenth was named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Men's Golfer of the Week today after his record-setting performance last week.

He earned individual medalist honors at the Clarke Fall Invitational with a tournament record 134, bettering the previous low mark of 139 set in 2003. Drenth opened with a 69 before firing a Thunder Hills Country Club record-tying six-under par 65.

Drenth helped the Bees win the two-day event with a 569, another tournament record. The 2007 St. Ambrose team had the previous tournament low of 590.

This season, Drenth, from Davenport, Iowa, is averaging a 69.0 through six fall rounds. He previously won the MCC player of the week honor on Sept. 14.

Drenth was one of four St. Ambrose student-athletes to win the weekly conference award, joining Lauren Aderman (volleyball setter), Caiti Childers (women's golf) and Allison Bevenue (women's soccer defensive).

Records Fall as Drenth, Bees Win Clarke Fall Invite

Sept. 21, 2009

Dusty Drenth tied a course record with a 65 as the SAU men's golf team won the two-day Clarke Fall Invitational with a tournament-record 569. The Bees shattered the previous tournament record of 590 set by the 2007 SAU team.

Besides matching the Thunder Hills Country Club low round, Drenth set a tournament record with a 134, bettering the previous mark of 139 set in 2003. Drenth shot a 69 Sunday before his six-under par 65 on Monday.

Drenth and Jake Schertz, who opened with a 68, helped the Bees build an 18-shot lead after Sunday's round of 282. SAU came back with a second-round 287 to win the 13-team tournament going away. Central finished second with a 614, 45 shots back of the Bees.

Schertz carded a 74 Monday to finish with an even-par 142 total, good for second overall. Danny Nelson tied for fifth with back-to-back 73s while Matt Skahill shared seventh place with a 147 (72-75). Luke Johnson recorded a 153 (74-79).

The St. Ambrose JV team will compete in the Southern Iowa JV Tournament on Thursday before SAU plays in the Lindenwood Invitational next Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 28-29.

Bees Place Fourth at St. Francis Classic

Sept. 15, 2009

Shane Creighton fired a 69 to take fourth at the St. Francis Fall Classic Tuesday at Wedgewood Golf Club in Joliet, Ill. He finished three strokes behind the individual medalist and helped the Bees to a fourth-place showing in the 20-team tournament.

Joe Habecker shot a 72 and Zach Burd was just a shot back with a 73. Jack Moore finished with a 77 and Steve Digmann added an 81.

SAU will compete in the Clarke Fall Invitational Sunday and Monday.

Drenth Named MCC Golfer of the Week

Sept. 14, 2009

Senior Dusty Drenth was named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Men's Golfer of the Week today after posting a pair of top-three finishes in opening the year last week.

Drenth, from Davenport, Iowa, fired consecutive rounds of one-under 70 to place second with a 140 at the Grand View Viking Classic on Sept. 8-9. He helped the Bees take third in the 15-team tournament.

After shooting an even-par 72 on the first day of the Cropper Golf Classic in Marion, Iowa, Drenth carded a four-under 68 to take third in the 120-player field. St. Ambrose finished third as a team in the 24-team event.

Through his four rounds this season, Drenth is averaging a 70.0.

Sophomore John Darmody took home the weekly award for men's cross country after posting the fifth-best 8K time in school history. His time of 26:14 was good for 27th place at the Bradley University Open.

Drenth and Bees Finish Third at Mount Mercy

Sept. 13, 2009

Dusty Drenth finished with a four-under 140 to take third place at the Cropper Golf Classic hosted by Mount Mercy on Saturday and Sunday. After opening with an even-par 72, Drenth carded a 68 Sunday to finish third in the 120-player field. He helped lead St. Ambrose (286-302=588) to a third-place showing in the 24-team event.

Danny Nelson shot matching 73s to finish with a two-over 146 and tie for 12th. Matt Skahill shot a 71 before settling for an 81 Sunday to end with a 152. Jake Schertz (70-83) had a 153 after a 70 on Saturday. Ryan Sergeant finished with a 157 (77-80).

A second St. Ambrose group, led by Luke Johnson and Zach Burd, finished in a tie for seventh. Johnson tied for fifth with back-to-back rounds of 72 for a 144. Burd was just a shot behind his teammate with a 145 after opening with a 69. He shot a 77 Sunday.

Brent Anderson shot a 152 (75-77), Ben Gillen finished with a 155 (79-76) and Grant Milling had a 162 (81-81).

William Woods was the top team with a 576 (286-290).

St. Ambrose will compete in the St. Francis Fall Classic Tuesday in Joliet, Ill.

SAU Takes Fourth at Duane Chanay Invitational

Sept. 11, 2009

Joe Habecker shot a 73 to help St. Ambrose finish fourth at the Duane Chanay Invitational Friday. The Bees finished with a 299 in the 22-team tournament, just a shot out of third place. Black Hawk College won the event with a 291.

Jack Moore shot a 74, Greg Vize fired a 75 and Steve Digmann finished with a 77 for SAU. Shane Creighton ended with an 80.

Bees Start Year with Second-Place Showing

Sept. 9, 2009

Dusty Drenth shot back-to-back 70s to finish second as St. Ambrose opened the 2009-10 golf season with a third-place effort at the Grand View Viking Classic. Drenth's 140 put him three shots behind individual medalist Josh Manske (72-65=137) from Grand View.

Danny Nelson fired a 69 on Wednesday to finish with a two-day total of 142 (73-69) to finish in fourth place overall. Jake Schertz was 12th with a 148 (72-76) and Matt Skahill was 18th with a 149 (75-74). Ben Gillen carded a 153 (75-78).

The Bees finished with a 579 total after a 290 first round and a 289 on the second day. Grand View won the 14-team event with a 571 (290-281).

A second SAU team took fourth with a 593 (302-291). Grant Milling's 146 (74-72) was good for eighth individually. After an opening-round 77, Ryan Sergeant bounced back with a 69 on Wednesday to finish with a 146. Luke Johnson tied for 12th with a 148 (75-73). Brent Anderson shot a 151 (74-77) and Zach Burd shot a 156 (79-77).

St. Ambrose will compete in the Duane Chanay Invitational in Port Byron, Ill., on Friday before playing in the Mount Mercy Classic Saturday and Sunday.

St. Ambrose Earns GCAA Academic Award

Sept. 2, 2009

The St. Ambrose men's golf team recently earned Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) All-Academic Team honors. The Bees were recognized after posting better than a 3.0 cumulative GPA in the 2008-09 academic year.

SAU was one of only seven NAIA institutions to finish with at least a 3.0 GPA last year.

Jeff Griebel to be Inducted into NAIA Hall of Fame

Aug. 26, 2009

The NAIA announced today that St. Ambrose men's golf coach Jeff Griebel will be inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame as a coach. Griebel is one of 15 members of the 2009-10 class of inductees.

His induction as a coach will be May 17, 2010, as part of the NAIA Men's Golf National Championship, which will be hosted by St. Ambrose at TPC @ Deere Run.

Griebel was named head men's golf coach at St. Ambrose University in 1982, and immediately made an impact in intercollegiate golf. Griebel's teams have qualified for 21 NAIA Men's Golf National Tournaments and have won 15 of 17 Midwest Collegiate Conference championships. With one of the top winning percentages in the nation, Griebel has been named the MCC Coach of the Year 14 times and the Midwest Region 7 Coach of the Year 19 times. He has coached seven NAIA First Team All-American selections and two Second-Team All-American selections.

Griebel was instrumental in St. Ambrose's efforts to host the 2009 and 2010 NAIA Men's Golf National Championship events in the Quad Cities.

In addition to his golf duties, Griebel is the director of athletic recruitment and the assistant bowling coach at St. Ambrose. Griebel holds a genuine concern for the total development of his athletes, both on the course and in their academic careers. Griebel is a proven leader and well respected by other golf professionals throughout the country. He has held leadership positions on the NAIA Men's Golf Coaches Association and was the men's golf chair for NAIA Region 7 and the Midwest Collegiate Conference.

The entire 2009-10 NAIA Hall of Fame class includes: Elvin "Al" Papik (Football, Coach), Bob Young (Football, Coach), Brian Harvey (Soccer, Coach), Jim Davies (Meritorious Service), Funda Aliskan-Sinani (Volleyball, Athlete), Dr. Phil and Mary Pattison (Meritorious Service), Herman "Buddy" Meyer (Basketball, Coach), Randy Kortokrax (Basketball, Athlete), Susan Johnson (Basketball, Coach), Jim Boeve (Meritorious Service), Cheryl Schaefer (Softball, Athlete), Jeff Griebel (Golf, Coach), Bryan Clay (Track & Field, Athlete), and Dr. Mary Livengood Sutherland (Track & Field, Athlete).

"The NAIA Hall of Fame recognizes the remarkable contributions of student-athletes, coaches, athletic administrators and longtime NAIA supporters," said Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO. "The individuals that make up the 2009-10 class have made a considerable impact on intercollegiate athletics. I applaud their achievements and congratulate them on this tremendous honor."

The Hall of Fame consists of a division for each sport currently or formerly sponsored by the association and a division for general meritorious service to the NAIA. The NAIA Hall of Fame is divided into three categories: athlete, coach and meritorious service. All inductees will be recognized and honored at various NAIA events held throughout the year.