Saint John's golf crosses the border to compete at Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Frank Wrigglesworth Blugold Invitational this Sunday (1:30 p.m.)-Monday (9 a.m.), Sept. 14-15, at Eau Claire C.C. (par 71). – Live Scoring

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's tied for fifth out of 15 teams at last weekend's (Sept. 6-7) 54-hole Minnesota Golf Classic at Pioneer Creek G.C. (par 72) in Maple Plain.

Gustavus Adolphus bounced back from the opening-round 309 (+21) and climbed from 12th to a tournament win with a 1-under par 287 during Sunday's first round and closed with a 274 (-14) in the final 18 holes. The Gusties finished with a three-round total of 870 (+6), followed by the tournament's host, Bethel (+12, 876); Carleton (+14, 878); Wisconsin-Stout (+35, 899); and a tie between SJU and St. Olaf at 904 (+40). 

The tournament included 29 golfers from NCAA Division I programs whose teams competed at Minnesota's Gopher Invitational across the road at Windsong Farm G.C. Rutgers' Jeffrey Zatorski earned medalist honors with a 9-under par 207.

Freshman Lukas Ehmke (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) was the top finisher for the Johnnies in 29th (+6, 222) out of 109 golfers as a member of SJU Blue. Ehmke finished with five birdies on Sunday to card a 72-74-76. SJU Blue claimed 11th at 920 (+56).

Junior Nate Appelhof (Blaine, Minn./Totino-Grace), who was tied for second among Division III golfers after round one, finished 33rd overall and 12th among Division III competitors. Appelhof was +1 in his second round with four birdies and 11 pars but bogeyed six times and doubled twice in his final 18 to shoot a 223 (+7). 

Gavin Grahek (Maple Grove, Minn.) was next for SJU's varsity in a tie for 50th (+10, 226). He and Appelhof shot the Johnnies' best round two (73), but the sophomore dropped with a 79 in his final round of the day.

Seniors Tim Fultz (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area) and Ethan Kress (Woodbury, Minn.) tied for 58th with a three-round score of 229 (+13). Kress jumped nine spots in his final round with a three-over par 75.

Carleton Match Play
Carleton handed Saint John's golf a 5-0 loss in match play on Monday (Sept. 8) at Edinburgh G.C. (par 72) in Brooklyn Park.

-Justin Rodriguez (CAR) def. junior Nate Appelhof (Blaine, Minn./Totino-Grace), 3&1
-Sam Higaki (CAR) def. senior Tim Fultz (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area), 4&3
-Gordon Walker (CAR) def. sophomore Gavin Grahek (Maple Grove, Minn.), 2&1
-Austin Mak (CAR) def. senior Ethan Kress (Woodbury, Minn.), 1 up
-Dillon Croco (CAR) def. freshman Lukas Ehmke (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge), 6&4

WHO WILL BE THERE: The Johnnies (two teams) and host Blugolds (two teams) are scheduled to be joined by Augsburg, Bethel, Central (Iowa), Concordia-Moorhead, Dubuque (Iowa), Edgewood (Wis.), No. 24 Gustavus Adolphus, No. 4 Illinois Wesleyan, Lake Forest (Ill.), North Central (Ill.), St. Olaf, Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Wisconsin-Stout and Wisconsin-Superior.

SJU'S COURSE RECORDS: The Johnnies last played at Eau Claire C.C. in 2014 when they finished sixth out of 14 teams at Eau Claire's Frank Wrigglesworth Blugold Invitational.

Eau Claire C.C.; Eau Claire, Wis. (par 71)
-2 - Joe Schoolmeesters, UW-Eau Claire Invitational (Sept. 21, 2008)
-1 - Nathan Proshek, UW-Eau Claire Invitational (Sept. 22, 2003)
-1 - Josh Sherlin, UW-Eau Claire Invitational (Sept. 22, 2003)
E - Ben Vangsness, UW-Eau Claire Invitational (Sept. 27, 2009)
E - Joe Schoolmeesters, UW-Eau Claire Invitational (Sept. 23, 2006)
E - Andrew Longbella, UW-Eau Claire Invitational (Sept. 26, 2004)
E - Kyle Fredrickson, UW-Eau Claire Invitational (Sept. 22, 2002)