Men’s golf finishes third at Conference Championship, Koepp awarded All-Conference
Sunday, October 05, 2008

Joseph Baer

Alexandria, Minn. – The 36-hole UMAC Conference Championship on Friday and Saturday was played at the Alexandria Golf Club, a place where PGA Tour Professional and Minnesota fame Tom Lehman learned the ropes of the game. Martin Luther College escaped some second day scares and came away with the team victory. Josh Ottoson from Crown College posted a 75 and an 80 to finish with a 155 and medal as individual champion.

The course proved to a tough one, but Martin Luther tamed it the first day posting a 317. The 317 on Friday gave them a 23 stroke lead over Bethany and Crown College and a 28 stroke lead over Northwestern College. Although the second day, Martin Luther tied with the third best Saturday team score, it was enough to hold off charging Northwestern and Bethany Lutheran. Final team scores included a 652 from Martin Luther, a 666 fro m Northwestern College, a 667 by Bethany Lutheran, Crown College finished with a 675, Minnesota-Morris holed out in 693 strokes, and North Central University (723) overcame Presentation College (738) after a tough first day for sixth place.

Bethany received a team low scored from junior Mitchell Koepp (Arlington, Minn./Sibley East) both days. Koepp posted an 82 on Friday and a 77 on Saturday (total of 159), which was good enough to beat the 161 cut for All-Conference selection. Koepp finished third individually in the tournament. Other All-Conference selections included: Medalist Josh Ottoson of Crown, Dean Goodwin from North Central who finished with a 158, Tyler Fearing of Northwestern who shot a 160, and a three way tie for fifth between Nick Olsen of Northwestern and Isaac Crass and Joe Zell of Martin Luther at 161.

Other Bethany scores included a 164 from Joe Baer (Lewiston, Minn./Lewiston-Altura), a 168 from departing senior and four year varsity member Paul Webber (Scottsdale, Ariz./Michigan Lutheran Seminary), a 176 from Andrew Swanson (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Sibley East) , and a 178 by Devin Kaasa (Glenville, Minn./Riverland CC).

UMAC Golf Championships to tee off on Friday
Thursday, October 02, 2008

ST. PAUL (Oct. 2, 2008) – Alexandria Golf Club in Alexandria, Minn. awaits seven men’s teams and five women’s teams from Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) schools that will compete for their respective conference championship this Friday and Saturday.

Bethany Lutheran College’s men’s team has played their best golf as of late, scoring a 320 in their last two meets. Last year’s conference champions are led by Mitch Koepp, who has won medalist honors twice while finishing in the Top 5 in five of the team’s six events.

Crown College returns three players from the 2007 UMAC runner-up squad. Earning first and second place in two of their five meets this season, Crown is led by Josh Ottoson, who has posted three scores of 80 or less.

Northwestern College returns only two golfers from last year’s squad that took third place in the UMAC Championship. Team captain and two-time all-conference golfer Nick Olson has won medalist honors twice this season.

Freshman Ethan Wessel has given Martin Luther College a huge boost this year, as the Knights have won their last six meets. Wessel dominated the field in the Bethany Lutheran Invitational (Le Sueur Country Club) on Sept. 12, shooting even par (70) en route to being awarded medalist honors.

The University of Minnesota, Morris is looking to improve on their fifth place showing at last year’s UMAC Championship. David Katz has the team’s low round of the 2008, as he shot a 78 in the Bethany Lutheran Invitational. Katz, a freshman, has been a medalist once this year.

Four players on Presentation College’s roster have been the Saints’ clubhouse leader in one of the team’s six meets this season, making for a well-rounded squad. The downside for Head Coach Matt Sevareid is that Presentation’s best individual score in any meet this season was an 84.

For the first time, North Central University will be joining the UMAC men’s ranks as an associate member. The Rams are led by Dean Goodwin, who was voted as the league’s Men’s Golfer of the Week in September. North Central posted a year-low score of 345 at a dual meet with Concordia-St. Paul.

2008 will be the first year that the UMAC hosts a women’s golf conference championship. Not enough full teams have participated in the event in years past, making it an invitational-style tournament.

Northwestern’s women, who won the 2007 conference championship, are led by Jamee Bohlen and Kristina Siemens. Bohlen carded a 90-93-183 at last year’s UMAC finale, while Siemens, a freshman, won medalist honors in her last tournament with an 87.

Bethany Lutheran’s women have won two of their meets this year. Abigail Lecy, who claimed medalist honors in last year’s conference championship, has posted four Top 5 finishes in 2008. Kelsey Schlicker returns to the course after being the runner-up in last year’s tournament.

Ashley Watson and Emma Schlosser have paced Minnesota, Morris this year. Watsons’ season low is a 94 (UMAC Preview Tournament), while Schlosser came in with a 95 in the same tournament.

Presentation has placed in the Top 3 in four of the team’s meets this season. The Saints are led by Hannah Heidelberger, who has averaged 105 strokes per meet.

Martin Luther’s women’s team has only played in one meet as a complete squad in 2008. Amanda Selle carded a 102 in that meet, while Joanna Kramer finished with a 111.

Built in 1956, Alexandria Golf Club is a private golf course that features large trees, tight fairways and a thick rough. On Friday and Saturday, the men will be playing on a 6,504-yard course, while the women will play a full 5,800 yards.

Tee times for Friday’s action will begin at 11 a.m., while Saturday’s second rounds will begin at 10 a.m.

Koepp co-medals with 76, Men’s golf wins North Central Invitational
Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Joseph Baer

Lakeville, Minn. – The Bethany men’s golf team traveled to Brackets Crossing Country Club for a Monday afternoon meeting of five Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) golf teams. The Bethany golf team took the victory edging out rivals Martin Luther College by two and Northwestern College by eight.

Actual team scores included a 320 from the Vikings, a 322 from Martin Luther College, Northwestern College finished with a 328, and Minnesota-Morris (349) bettered host North Central University (350) for fourth place by one.

Individual medalist for the meet was shared by Bethany’s Mitchell Koepp (Arlington, Minn./Sibley East) and Martin Luther’s Issac Crass, who both shot 76. Other Bethany scores included a 79 from Andrew Swanson (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Sibley East), an 80 from Joe Baer (Lewiston, Minn./Lewiston-Altura), and the fourth score went to Devin Kaasa (Glenville, Minn./Riverland CC) who shared an 85 with Paul Webber (Scottsdale, Ariz./Michigan Lutheran Seminary), but won the Rochambeau tiebreaker.

After the tight Bethany victory, the conference race looks to be a toss up going into the UMAC Conference Tournament next weekend at the Alexandria Country Club. All men’s and women’s UMAC golf teams will tee off at 11 a.m. on Friday and Saturday to determine the Conference Championships in the 36-hole tourney.

Men's golf takes second at MLC invite
Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Free Press Writer

New Ulm, Minn.—Bethany Lutheran College’s Paul Webber (Scottsdale, Ariz./Michigan Lutheran Seminary) won medalist honors Tuesday with a 74 at the Martin Luther Invitational men’s golf tournament at the New Ulm Country Club.

Martin Luther won the team event, tying Bethany at 320 but winning the tiebreaker. Northwestern finished third at 325 followed by North Central at 363.

Martin Luther’s Ethan Wessel shot a 78 and was followed by teammates Joe Biebert (80), Isaac Crass (81), Joe Zell (81) and Jacob Hag (86).

Bethany’s Mitch Koepp (Arlington, Minn./Sibley East) shot a 79, followed by teammates Joe Baer (Lewiston, Minn./Lewiston-Altura) with 82, Devin Kassa (Glenville, Minn./Riverland CC) with 85, and Brandon Johnson (Waterville, Minn./Waterville-Elysian-Morristown) with 96.

The Bethany men’s next match is Monday at Bracketts Crossing in Lakeville, Minn., for the North Central Invitational.

Men’s and women’s golf both place second in Benson
Friday, September 19, 2008

Joseph Baer

Benson, Minn.—The University of Minnesota-Morris hosted their Cougar Invitational on Thursday, September 18, at Benson Golf Club. The golf meet featured eight men’s teams, including all seven Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) teams. The women’s meet featured Bethany Lutheran, Northwestern College, Minnesota-Morris, Presentation College, Jamestown, and individuals from Martin Luther College.

The men’s meet was dominated by Martin Luther College. The Knights finished with a 310 and had the top three individual scores, including a 75 from medalist Joe Zell. The Bethany men finished the meet in second as a team, with a 345. Other team scores included Crown College with a 348, Jamestown and Northwestern College tied for fourth with a 350, Minnesota-Morris shot a 357, North Central University had a 363, and Presentation College finished with a 367.

Bethany had three individuals finish in the 80s. Joe Baer (Lewiston, Minn./Lewiston-Altura) and Mitch Koepp (Arlington, Minn./Sibley East) holed out with a pair of 83s, and senior Paul Webber (Scottsdale, Ariz./Michigan Lutheran Seminary) shot an 84. Devin Kaasa (Glenville, Minn./Riverland CC) rounded out the top four for the Vikings.

The women’s meet was won by a team outside of the UMAC. Jamestown, who finished with a team score of 423 and was led by a 94 from Courtney Haag and a 96 by Heather Cellmer. Northwestern’s Kristina Siemens medaled at a meet for the second time this week with an 87.

The Bethany women finished with a 432, which was good enough for second place. Kelsey Schlicker (Lake City, Minn./Lincoln) led the way for the Vikings with a 97. Abigail Lecy (Marshall, Minn./Marshall) shot an even 100 and Jennifer Johnson (Waterville, Minn./Waterville-Elysian-Morristown) added a 113 for Bethany. Jackie Ausen (Alden, Minn./Alden-Conger) rounded out their top four scores. Other team scores in the Cougar Invitational included a 449 from the Northwestern women, a 458 by Minnesota-Morris, and a 481 from Presentation College.

Men’s golf places second at UMAC Preseason tournament
Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Joseph Baer

Waconia, Minn.—Crown College hosted the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Preseason Tournament at Island View Golf Club on Monday afternoon.

The Bethany men finished second out of the seven teams with a total of 336. Martin Luther College took another UMAC golf victory with a 330. Other team scores included: Northwestern with a 337, Crown College with a 339, UM-Morris with a 357, North Central University with a 359, and Presentation College with a 372.

Dean Goodwin from North Central University medaled for the men with a three over par 75. Bethany’s Mitchell Koepp (Arlington, Minn./Sibley East) led the way for the Vikings and placed second individually with a 78. Other Bethany scores included an 84 from Joe Baer (Lewiston, Minn/Lewiston Altura), an 86 from Paul Webber (Scottsdale, Ariz./Michigan Lutheran Seminary), and an 88 from Brandon Johnson (Waterville, Minn./Waterville-Elysian-Morristown).

The women’s meet finished close as well. UM-Morris picked up the team victory with a 459, while Northwestern was only four strokes behind at 463. Martin Luther College placed third with a 509, and Presentation College shot a 521. The Bethany women did not qualify a team score, but took three individuals. Kelsey Schlicker (Lake City, Minn./Lincoln) shot a 94 to represent the Vikings and placed in a tie for second with Ashley Watson of Morris. Medalist for the women’s meet was Kristina Siemens of Northwestern.

The Bethany golf teams will travel to Benson, Minn. on Thursday, September 18, 2008, where Minnesota-Morris will host a UMAC conference golf meet.

Women's golf wins Bethany Invitational, men finish fourth
Friday, September 12, 2008

Joseph Baer

Le Sueur, Minn.—The Bethany golf teams hosted the Bethany Lutheran Invitational, an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) meet, at Le Sueur Country Club on Friday.

The men’s team struggled, placing fourth out of seven schools. They finished with a team score of 345. Martin Luther College won the meet handily with a 314. This included an impressive even par 70 from former Viking Ethan Wessel. MLC also received a 79 from Joe Zell, an 80 from Isaac Crass, and an 85 from Joe Biebert.

Bethany took three scores in the 80s from individuals Joe Baer (Lewiston, Minn./Lewiston-Altura) with 81, Mitch Koepp (Arlington, Minn./ Sibley East) with 83, and Paul Webber (Scottsdale, Ariz./ Michigan Lutheran Seminary) with 85. Brandon Johnson rounded out the top four.

Other men’s team scores included: Crown with a 333, Northwestern College with a 336, UM-Morris with a 346, Presentation College with a 370, and North Central University finished with a 372.

The Bethany women had much better fortune at Le Sueur. The women shot a 424, including an 89 from medalist Kelsey Schlicker (Lake City, Minn./Lincoln). Other Bethany individuals included Abbie Lecy (Marshall, Minn./Marshall) with 98, Jennifer Johnson (Waterville, Minn./WEM) with 115, and Jackie Ausen (Alden, Minn./Alden-Conger), who rounded out the top four scores for the Vikings. Northwestern College (451) and Martin Luther College (481) finished the women’s meet second and third respectively.

Both the men’s and women’s golf teams will travel to Waconia, Minn. to golf the Island View Country Club on Monday, September 15. All of the UMAC conference teams will be present for the annual Pre-season Tournament.