Bushnell Golfweek Preseason Poll

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - The Saint John's University golf team was ranked No. 15 in the Bushnell Golfweek Division III Preseason Coaches' poll released Aug. 23.

Illinois Wesleyan, the defending NCAA Division III champions, earned the top spot in the poll with 13 of the 19 first-place votes. Emory (Ga.) received five first-place votes and took second in the poll, eight points ahead of Huntingdon (Ala.) in third. St. Thomas (No. 22) joined SJU in the top 25 and Gustavus Adolphus received votes.

SJU finished fourth at the 2018 MIAC Championship but bounced back to earn one of the seven Pool C at-large berths to the NCAA Division III Championship, its 17th trip to nationals in the last 20 seasons. The Johnnies tied for 21st out of 42 teams and missed the cut (top-18 teams) by three shots. 

The Johnnies open the 2019-20 season Sept. 7-8 at the Pioneer Creek Collegiate Invitational in Maple Plain. SJU competes outside of the state Sept. 14-15 at the NCAA Preview in Florida (PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens), the site of the 2020 NCAA Division III Championship, and Oct. 13-15 at the Golfweek Division III Preview in Destin, Fla. The MIAC Championship is Oct. 5-7 at the Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan.

SJU returns a trio of Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) All-Region honorees in 2019-20. Seniors David Schneider (Albany, Minn.) and Matt Wahl (Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins) achieved the honor last season, while senior Matt Lutz (Maple Grove, Minn./Totino-Grace) did so in 2017-18.

Schneider was named GCAA All-America honorable mention in 2018-19, the Johnnies' 19th All-American in the last 12 seasons. Although SJU missed the cut as a team at the NCAA Championship, Schneider qualified as an individual for the final two rounds. He finished 21st out of 216 golfers with a four-round total of 297 (+9) and ended the season second on the team with a 74.6 scoring average in 29 rounds.

Wahl led the team with a 74.4 scoring average in 26 rounds last season and tied for second with four rounds at par or better, including an opening-round 66 (-6) at SJU's Spring Invitational in April. Unfortunately, Wahl fell ill at the NCAA Championship and missed the opening round. He averaged a 71.1 over his final seven rounds prior to the national tournament.

Lutz recorded a 78.4 scoring average in 22 rounds last season after taking fourth at the 2017 MIAC Championship and posting a 75.3 average in his All-Region season. 

The Johnnies also return juniors Preston Kopel (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Foley) and Esten Stensrud (Glenwood, Minn./Minnewaska Area) in 2019-20. Kopel recorded an even 76.0 in 27 rounds and earned the NCAA's Elite 90 Award as having the highest cumulative GPA among student-athletes participating at the NCAA Championship, while Stensrud averaged a 77.1 in 21 rounds last season.

The 2007 Eaton Golf Pride National Coach of the Year and 2010 inductee into the GCAA Hall of Fame, Bob Alpers is in his 27th season as SJU's head golf coach in 2019-20. He has guided the Johnnies to 11 MIAC titles and 17 NCAA appearances, including back-to-back national championships in 2007 and 2008. SJU has finished in the top 10 at the national tournament 11 of the 17 appearances (and the top 15 in 14 of the 17). His program has produced 32 All-Americans and 34 Scholar All-Americans since 2000.

SJU in the GCAA Preseason Poll (since 2007)
2019: No. 15
2018: No. 19
2017: No. 16
2016: No. 24
2015: No. 18
2014: No. 17
2013: No. 4
2012: No. 16
2011: No. 2
2010: No. 5
2009: No. 10
2008: No. 1
2007: No. 1