By Frank Rajkowski, SJU Writer/Video Producer

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Saint John's University juniors Sam Berger and Blake Schuler have been golfing together since they were in seventh grade. They now live together and share the same major – global business leadership.
 
Each make up one-half of a set of twins, and Berger has dated Schuler's twin sister, Lauren, (a junior at the College of Saint Benedict) the past three years.
 
So yeah … it's fair to say the connection between them runs deeper than the most imposing water hazard.
 
"Sam is like family to me," Schuler said. "We go back a long way together."
 
"We have really similar personalities," Berger added. "We like a lot of the same things – sports, hunting, ice fishing, video games. We share a lot in common."
 
Which is what made their performance at last weekend's Twin Cities Classic so special. Berger shot 4-under-par over his final nine holes to finish with a three-round score of 214 and earn medalist honors for the first time in his collegiate career. 
 
Schuler, meanwhile, shot even par over his last 11 holes to finish with a three-round score of 216 – good enough for second place. 
 
Their respective efforts helped the Johnnies win the competitive 18-team event – which was played at Elk River Country Club, the Links at Northfork in Ramsey and the Edina Country Club – by 40 strokes. 
 
SJU finished with a team score of 886. Carleton placed second with 926.
 
"That was pretty cool," said Berger, who earned MIAC men's golfer of the week honors. "I didn't really know what was going on with the leaderboard when I was out on the course. But when I finished my round and saw that, I was super happy.
 
"You can't ask for anything better – to be going back and forth down the stretch with your good buddy."
 
Both Berger and Schuler hope the performance provides their team a boost heading into this weekend's MIAC Championships. The tournament begins Saturday and runs through Monday at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids.
 
The winner earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III meet scheduled for May 16-19 at the Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Ky. The Johnnies have qualified for nationals – either on an automatic bid or as an at-large selection – 19 times since 2000 and won national titles in 2007 and '08 .
 
"I think the way we played shows we're peaking at the right time," said Berger, whose father, Kyle, also was an SJU golfer. "The first couple of tournaments this fall didn't come close to showing how good we actually are. I still don't think our best golf has come yet. But we have a lot of momentum going now, and hopefully that carries over into conferences."
 
"We feel like we can compete with any team out there if we play the way we're capable of," added Schuler, who earned medalist honors for the first time in his collegiate career at the two-round Saint John's Fall Invitational played Sept. 17-18 at St. Cloud Country Club and Blackberry Ridge in Sartell. "We all have a lot of confidence in each other."
 
Each earned All-MIAC honors as sophomores last fall with Berger finishing fourth at the conference meet and Schuler tying for seventh. Both were among the five who played for the Johnnies at the national meet last May as well. And Berger played at nationals as a freshman in 2021.
 
"They're both great players, but their styles are a little different," SJU head coach Bob Alpers '82 said. "Blake is a little more aggressive and Sam is a little more calculating. But they both have been doing a great job for us. They don't just get along great with each other, they get along great with their teammates as well."
 
Being part of a set of twins might seem at least a bit unique, but Berger and Schuler said it didn't make them that uncommon in their graduating class at Waconia High School. 
 
Out of a group of around 325, they said there were at least 13 different sets of twins.
 
"It was kind of crazy," said Schuler, whose oldest sister, Megan, attended CSB.
 
Several of those Waconia twins found their way to Saint John's and Saint Ben's – including Berger and Blake and Lauren Schuler. But Berger's twin brother, Ben, opted to range farther from home, ending up at Montana State.
 
"It was a little weird at first not having him around because we'd always been together growing up," Berger said. "We still talk on the phone though. In a way, it's been kind of nice for both of us to get out on our own and do our own thing.
 
"But we find ways to stay connected with one another."
 
And, of course, Berger and Schuler remain connected as well – sharing a bond each expects will remain strong in the years to come.
 
"We've been friends a long time now," Schuler said. "We've been through a lot together. No matter where our lives take us, I'm sure we're going to stay close."