COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's University senior golfer Dennis Granath (Bandhagen, Sweden/Farsta Gymnasium) earned the inaugural Fr. Wilfred Theisen Student-Athlete of the Year Award sponsored by the J-Club.

The award was announced April 28 at the SJU Senior Banquet, which Granath was unable to attend due to a golf tournament. He was presented the award by Theisen following the SJU Spring Invitational April 29 at Monticello Country Club.

The 2012 MIAC Player of the Year, Granath is a two-time Golf Coaches' Association of America (GCAA) All-American and All-Region selection, and earned All-MIAC honors (top 10, including ties, at MIAC Championship) three times.

A two-time GCAA All-America Scholar, including 2013, Granath has a 3.40 GPA as a Global Business Leadership major. He currently boasts 19 top-10 finishes, including 12 in the top five and three medalist honors with a 74.6 stroke average in 82 career rounds.

"Dennis is on the short list of the all-time great players and people we have had in our golf program," head coach Bob Alpers said. "Since the day he arrived, he has made such a huge impact on our team and the Saint John's community. He won the first two events of his college career and hasn't looked back.

"He has been a great player, a great student and a great friend to so many of us. I am so pleased that he has received this great honor."

Theisen taught physics at SJU for 47 years and was named Professor Emeritus at his retirement in 2005. He is a former SJU faculty representative to the MIAC and continues as treasurer of the J-Club. 
  
SJU, ranked third nationally, ends its regular season at the Gustavus Adolphus Invitational on Friday and Saturday, May 3-4. Friday's round is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at Le Sueur C.C., followed by a noon start on Saturday at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan.