Final Results

MAPLE PLAIN, Minn. – Saint John's golf fired a pair of even-par rounds and finished second out of 15 teams at the Minnesota Classic on Sunday, Sept. 11, at Pioneer Creek G.C. (par 72) in Maple Plain.

The tournament's host, Bethel took first place with a three-round total of 866 (+2). SJU was second at 874 (+10), followed by Luther (+13, 877), Wisconsin-Eau Claire (+18, 882) and Gustavus Adolphus' second team (+27, 891).

SJU jumped two spots into second place after Sunday's first round, but Bethel extended its lead to 20 shots with a repeat of Saturday's first-round score, a 5-under par 283. The Johnnies gained 12 shots on the Royals in the third and final round.

Saint John's led the tournament with 52 birdies and went -21 on the course's four par-5 holes over the three rounds.

Junior Nate Loxtercamp (Richmond, Minn./Melrose Area) carded a 3-under par 69, thanks to three birdies and an eagle on the par-4 No. 16 in Sunday's first round (the tournament's second round) and followed that with four more birdies and a 73 (+1) to tie for 17th (+1, 217) out of 110 golfers. His individual finish was sixth among the NCAA Division III competitors, as the tournament included 30 golfers from Division I programs.

A pair of juniors from Waconia, Sam Berger and Blake Schuler tied for 30th with a 220 (+4) each (tied for ninth among Division III). Berger started the day with a 76 (+4) and went -2 on his final four holes to end the tourney with an even-par 72. Schuler, meanwhile, started with a 72 and recorded an impressive eight birdies to post a career-best 68 (-4) in the final round. He was a collective -9 on the four par-5 holes and led the Division III golfers with 16 birdies in the tournament.

Senior Thomas Gutzmer (Jordan, Minn.) tied for 38th (+7, 223) and sophomore Andrew Boemer (Eagan, Minn./St. Thomas Academy) tied for 58th (+12, 228).

SJU Blue tied with Gustavus' varsity for seventh at 913 (+49) and was led by junior Nate Bauer (Andover, Minn.), who tied for 43rd (+9, 225).

The Johnnies return home to host their annual fall invitational next Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 17-18. The first round is scheduled for tee times starting at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Cloud C.C., followed by a 9 a.m. shotgun start Sunday at Blackberry Ridge G.C. in Sartell.