St. Ambrose University | Men's Golf News

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 a team cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0 during the 2009-10 academic year.

St. Ambrose was one of only seven NAIA golf programs to receive the academic award from the GCAA.

Led by a pair of St. Ambrose Fighting Bees, Team USA finished ninth at the 13th World University Golf Championship at Antequera Golf Club in Malaga, Spain, June 8-11.

Coached by SAU head coach Jeff Griebel, Team USA shot a four-round 900 to place ninth in the 15-team event. St. Ambrose senior golfer Dusty Drenth finished in a tie for 52nd overall with a 310. Drenth opened with a 78 and followed that with a 79 before carding a 73 in the third round. He closed with an 80.

Justin Lower, the individual medalist at the NAIA Men's Golf Championships last month, was the top USA player, shooting a 292 to take ninth.

Final Team Standings: 1 - South Korea, 869. 2 - Japan, 872. 3 - Spain, 873. 4 - Taiwan, 874. 5 - Canada, 881. 6 - Italy, 889. 7 - Switzerland, 892. 8 - Great Britain, 894. 9 - United States, 900. 10 - South Africa, 902. 11 - Thailand, 906. 12 - France, 913. 13 - Ireland, 915. 14 - China, 942. 15 - Poland, 980.

United States National Team Results:
Justin Lower - 72-76-73-71=292 (9th place)
Kurt Slattery - 73-77-81-73=304 (41st place)
Spencer Baldwin - 73-77-74-81=305 (43rd place)
Dusty Drenth - 78-79-73-80=310 (52nd place)
Zachary Primavera - 84-75-74-77=310 (52nd place)
Austin Conroy - 81-74-81-78=314 (66th place)

Senior Dusty Drenth capped his career by earning All-American status for the second straight year. He was one of 15 players named to the NAIA Men's Golf All-America First Team and one of just 10 players named to the PING All-America First Team.

Drenth, a two-time Midwest Collegiate Conference Golfer of the Year from Davenport, Iowa, closed his season with a 33rd-place finish at the NAIA National Championships last week.

This season, Drenth had nine top-five finishes and was the individual medalist at the Clarke Fall Invitational and the Augustana Invitational. He averaged a 73.03 over 30 rounds.

St. Ambrose missed the cut by four shots and finished 19th at the NAIA Men's Golf National Championships. Despite a third-round 82, senior Dusty Drenth made the cut as an individual and finished with a four-round total of 302 (75-70-82-75), good for 33rd place overall in the 156-player field. Malone's Justin Lower was the individual medalist with a 4-under par 280 (68-70-71-71).

As a team, St. Ambrose finished 19th with a 928 (303-308-317). Oklahoma City held on to win the team championship with an 1184 (293-299-304-288).

Dusty Drenth was named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Player of the Year recently. Drenth has won the conference honor two straight years. A golfer from St. Ambrose has won the award six straight times and in 14 of the last 18 years.

The senior from Davenport, Iowa, has nine top-five finishes. He was the individual medalist at the Clarke Fall Invitational and the Augustana Invite. Through 26 rounds this year, Drenth is averaging a 72.65.

“Dusty is very deserving of the honor to be voted MCC men’s Golf Player of the Year for the second straight year,” said St. Ambrose Head Coach Jeff Griebel. “He has had a tremendous 2009-10 season and I am very appreciative of his hard work and dedication to the golf program at St. Ambrose University.”

The 2009 All-American will lead the Bees into the NAIA Men's Golf National Championships May 18-21. SAU is hosting the four-round event at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.

St. Ambrose will host the 2010 NAIA Men's Golf National Championships May 18-21 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. It is the second straight year SAU will host the event and the University is also slated to host the National Tournament again in 2011.

The first round will begin at 7 a.m. with a second wave of tee times beginning at 12 p.m. Tuesday. St. Ambrose, grouped with Johnson & Wales (Fla.) and Ohio Dominican, will begin teeing off at 12:45 p.m.

The Bees, who finished 24th last year, will again be led by senior Dusty Drenth. Drenth earned all-tournament team honors at last year's event with his 10th-place finish. This year, he has won two events and is averaging a 72.65 over 26 rounds.

Drenth, Jake Schertz and Danny Nelson each was named to the Midwest Collegiate Conference All-Tournament Team after their top-five finishes at the MCC Championship. Teammates Ryan Sergeant and Grant Milling cracked the top 10 at the conference tournament. St. Ambrose finished second to Grand View.

More information on the 2010 NAIA Men's Golf National Championships, including a list of qualifiers, tee times and live scoring, is available on the NAIA website.

St. Ambrose will enter the 2010 NAIA Men's Golf National Championships as the 23rd-ranked team in the country. The Bees cracked the top 25 in the final NAIA Men's Golf Coaches' Top 25 Poll released recently.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, independents and unaffiliated groups.

SAU is coming off a second place finish at the Midwest Collegiate Conference Championship on April 17. All five Bees finished in the top 10 of the conference meet. St. Ambrose finished nine strokes behind Grand View, who is ranked 14th in the final coaches' poll.

The Bees will now host the 59th Annual NAIA National Championships May 18-21 at TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. Qualifiers for the event will be announced on May 6 while pairings will be announced the following day.

All five St. Ambrose players finished in the top 10 as the Bees took second at the Midwest Collegiate Conference Championship over the weekend.

Jake Schertz led the team with a three-round, three-over par 213, good for third overall. He opened with a 68 before shooting a 74 and a 71 over the final two rounds. Dusty Drenth was fourth, just a shot behind Schertz, with his 214. After a 76, Drenth carded a five-under 65 before closing the tournament with a 73. Danny Nelson cracked the top five with a 217 (71-74-72). Schertz, Drenth and Nelson were named to the MCC All-Tournament team based on their top-five finishes.

Ryan Sergeant (77-76-72=225) finished eighth and Grant Milling (77-77-72=226) placed 10th.

St. Ambrose finished second to tournament host Grand View. The Vikings finished with an 859 to defeat the Bees by nine strokes. SAU shot an 868.

The Bees will host the NAIA National Championship at the TPC @ Deere Run May 18-21.

The NAIA players who were chosen to represent the USA National Team at the 2010 World University Golf Championship in Spain and St. Ambrose University coach Jeff Griebel, who will coach the USA Team, were recognized at the Team Banquet of the NAIA Classic golf tournament April 11 at The Brickyard Golf Course in Indianapolis, Ind. The event was hosted by Indiana Wesleyan.

The three golfers competing at the NAIA Classic - St. Ambrose's Dusty Drenth, Indiana Wesleyan's Austin Conroy and Malone's Justin Lower - each finished in the top six of the prestigious two-round tournament. Drenth finished second with a one-under 143 (69-74) while Conroy (76-70) and Lower (75-71) tied for sixth with two-over 146s.

The three golfers will be joined by Kurt Slattery (Indian Hills Community College), Zach Primavera (Central Alabama Community College) and Spencer Baldwin (Brevard Community College) on Team USA which will compete in Spain from June 7-11. Griebel and Central Alabama's Dave Jennings will coach the team.

Pictured above from left to right are Dusty Drenth (St. Ambrose), Austin Conroy (Indiana Wesleyan), Justin Lower (Malone) and Coach Jeff Griebel (St. Ambrose). The players were presented with their USA National Team golf bags by Coach Griebel.

Dusty Drenth finished one-under par to take second place at the prestigious NAIA Classic at the Brickyard Crossing in Indianapolis, Ind., Monday and Tuesday. He opened with a three-under 69 to share the individual lead before shooting a second-round 74 to fall into second place with his 143, two shots behind the individual medalist.

Drenth helped lead St. Ambrose to a sixth-place showing in a tournament featuring 15 of the top teams in the country. The Bees finished with a 603 (299-304). Indiana Wesleyan won the event with a 590 (299-291).

Grant Milling tied for 18th overall with a 150 (74-76) and Jake Schertz finished in a tie for 23rd with a 151 (74-77). Ryan Sergeant (82-77=159) and Danny Nelson (83-81=164) also competed for SAU.

The Bees are right back in action Friday and Saturday at the Midwest Collegiate Conference Championship played at Otter Creek Golf Club in Ankeny, Iowa.

Dusty Drenth was named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Men's Golfer of the Week today after sharing individual medalist honors at the Augustana Invitational Saturday.

The senior led the Bees with a three-under par 139. He shot an even-par 71 Friday before following that with a 68 Saturday. Drenth settled for second overall after losing in a playoff.

His score helped St. Ambrose win the Augustana Invitational at Highland Springs Golf Course in Rock Island, Ill.

Drenth has been named the conference golfer of the week five times this year. He is averaging a 72.83 over 23 rounds and has eight top-five finishes.

Both St. Ambrose entries tied for first place with 585s at the Augustana Invitational Friday and Saturday at Highland Springs Golf Course in Rock Island, Ill. Dustry Drenth led one team with a two-round, three-under-par total of 139 (71-68). He settled for second overall after losing in a playoff. Brent Anderson led the second SAU team with a one-over-par 143 (73-70), good for a third-place tie individually.

Behind Drenth, Danny Nelson shot a 148 (76-72) to tie for ninth overall. Jake Schertz shot a 149 (76-73) to finish in 13th place, Grant Milling fired a 151 (79-72) for 19th and Ryan Sergeant finished with a 155 (77-78) to finish 24th. After trailing the second SAU team by four shots after Friday's round, this group shot a 285 on Saturday.

Joe Habecker (77-71) and Zachary Burd (74-74) tied for ninth to help the second Bee entry. Luke Johnson shot a 149 (72-77) to take 13th and Ben Gillen carded a 151 (77-74) to finish 19th.

With their 585s, both SAU teams easily out-distanced third-place Olivet Nazarene, which shot a 599 in the 14-team tournament.

Dusty Drenth was named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Men's Golfer of the Week today after his fifth-place finish at the Western Illinois University Beu/Mussatto Invitational.

The senior from Davenport, Iowa, finished with a three-round total of 218 to take fifth in the 13-team tournament featuring 73 golfers. Drenth opened with an even-par 72 Monday before firing a 74 later that day. Tuesday, he carded another even-par round to finish with his 218.

Drenth helped St. Ambrose place sixth with a 919, just three shots out of fourth place.

Drenth, a four-time MCC Golfer of the Week this year, is averaging a 73.32 over 19 rounds this year. He won the Clarke Fall Invitational and has six top-five finishes.

Dusty Drenth fired a two-over 218 to finish fifth overall at the Western Illinois University Beu/Mussatto Invitational Tuesday. He led the Bees to sixth place in the 13-team tournament at Champion Golf Club in Macomb, Ill.

Drenth opened with an even-par 72 in Monday's first round before shooting a 74 later that day. Tuesday, the senior shot par again to earn a top-five finish.

Grant Milling tied for 20th with a three-round total of 230. He shot back-to-back rounds of 76 on Monday before recording a 78 Tuesday. Jake Schertz shot a 238 (74-79-85), Ryan Sergeant had a 239 (79-84-76) and Danny Nelson finished with a 243 (80-80-83).

SAU finished sixth with a 919. After opening with a 301, the Bees had consecutive rounds of 309 to close the tournament. St. Ambrose finished only three shots out of fourth place. Western Illinois won the tournament with an 859.

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.

Connor Gillund, currently a sophomore at Black Hawk College (Ill.) has signed a letter of intent and will transfer to St. Ambrose in the fall 2010. Gillund will have two years of athletic eligibility remaining at St. Ambrose. He is a 2008 graduate of Davenport Central High School.

Gillund was named to the NJCAA Region IV 1st team in 2008 and 2009. He was the Region IV tournament medalist in 2009 and had a competitive stroke average of 73.8.

A three-time Mississippi Athletic Conference (MAC) first team boys golf all-conference selection at Davenport Central, Gillund was the MAC boys golf conference medalist in 2006 and finished in sixth place at the Iowa High School Boys Golf Class 4A State Tournament his senior year.

Gillund has two collegiate tournament wins and finished as the 19^th-place individual at the 2009 NJCAA Division II National Championship.

“Connor Gillund’s signing with St. Ambrose follows in a tradition of attracting the best Quad City area golf talent to compete in our program at St. Ambrose University,” said Coach Griebel. “Connor is a very competitive and committed player and he will be a great addition to our program next season.”

Gillund will be joining a St. Ambrose golf team that has qualified for the NAIA Men’s Golf National Tournament 17 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 18-21, 2010.

After hosting the second of three straight NAIA Men's Golf National Championships this spring, St. Ambrose University head coach Jeff Griebel (pictured, right) and senior All-American Dusty Drenth (pictured, below) will represent the school on an international stage.

Griebel and Drenth were selected to travel to Malaga, Spain, to compete in the World University Golf Championships from June 7-11, 2010. Griebel, along with Central Alabama Community College's Dave Jennings, were picked by the NAIA and the NJCAA to coach the Men's Team. The team of six was selected by the two coaches based on individual record and national ranking within the respective organization.

Drenth, off his 10th place finish at the 2009 NAIA Nationals in May, was one of the selections to compete at the Antequera Golf Club in June. He is joined on the team by NAIA representatives Justin Lower (Malone College) and Austin Conroy (Indiana Wesleyan) and NJCAA golfers Kurt Slattery (Indian Hills CC), Zach Primavera (Central Alabama CC) and Spencer Baldwin (Brevard CC).

Diana Thomason, the head coach at the University of Iowa and the head of the delegation for the USA National Team, will coach the Women's Team USA, made up of six NCAA Division I golfers.

The World University Golf Championships, sponsored by the International University Sports Federation, are held every two years. The 2008 event was held in South Africa. Team USA won the women's gold medal in a 13-country field while the Team USA men took fifth out of 14 countries. Japan won the gold, Spain took silver and Great Britain finished with the bronze.

More information on the World University Championships is available at www.wucgolf2010.com.

Men's TEAM USA
Dusty Drenth - St. Ambrose University (Iowa)
Justin Lower - Malone College (Ohio)
Austin Conroy - Indiana Wesleyan University
Kurt Slattery - Indian Hills Community College (Iowa)
Zach Primavera - Central Alabama Community College
Spencer Baldwin - Brevard Community College (Fla.)
Coach: Jeff Griebel - St. Ambrose University
Coach: Dave Jennings - Central Alabama Community College

Women's TEAM USA
Laura Anderson - University of Louisville (Ky.)
Stefanie Kenoyer - Furman University (S.C.)
Catherine O'Donnell - University of North Carolina
Laura Kueny - Michigan State University
Ashley Bauer - University of Michigan
One player to be determined
Coach: Diana Thomason - University of Iowa

Men's Golfers Ranked 25th in NAIA Preseason Poll

St. Ambrose is ranked 25th in the preseason NAIA Men's Golf Coaches' Top 25 Poll, released recently. The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, independents and unaffiliated groups.

Oklahoma City has the top spot in the poll after receiving all 19 first-place votes. Savannah College of Art and Design is second and South Carolina-Beaufort is third.

The Bees will enter the spring portion of their schedule after winning one event and earning nine top-five finishes in the fall. After a spring trip to Palm Springs, Calif., from March 15-19, SAU will compete in the Beu/Mussatto Western Illinois University Invite on March 29-30.

Sergeant Named MCC Men's Golfer of the Week

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.

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

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.

Drenth Named MCC Golfer of the Week

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

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.

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

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.”

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Drenth Named MCC Golfer of the Week

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.

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

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).

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

SAU Takes Fourth at Duane Chanay Invitational

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

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

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

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.

Men's Golf News - 2009-10

Men's Golfers Ranked 25th in NAIA Preseason Poll

Sergeant Named MCC Men's Golfer of the Week

Bees Close Fall with Fifth-Place Finish

Drenth Named MCC Golfer of the Week

SAU Finishes Fifth at NAIA Preview Invitational

SAU to Host 2011 NAIA Men's Golf National Championships

Bees Take Third at Ronnie Eastman Invitational

Strong Third Round Salvages Ninth Place

Drenth Named MCC Golfer of the Week after Record Week

Records Fall as Drenth, Bees Win Clarke Fall Invite

Bees Place Fourth at St. Francis Classic

Drenth Named MCC Golfer of the Week

Drenth and Bees Finish Third at Mount Mercy

SAU Takes Fourth at Duane Chanay Invitational

Bees Start Year with Second-Place Showing

St. Ambrose Earns GCAA Academic Award

Jeff Griebel to be Inducted into NAIA Hall of Fame