University of Minnesota Athletics
2002-2003 Golden Gopher Men's Golf Team Season Outlook
1/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
| 2002 NCAA Golf Champions |
What else could he accomplish? In his first year running the Minnesota men's golf program, he was responsible for leading the Golden Gophers to their first Big Ten title in 30 years and the school's first ever national championship. All that after having his program ticketed for elimination before a fund-raising drive by boosters saved the program. Not bad for a year's work.
"Last year was something special," said James. "It was a wild ride. But, we have to get back to establishing this program as one of the best in the country on a consistent basis. This University and community has made a renewed commitment to the golf programs and that's why I'm still here."
James is still here and so is the entire starting lineup that won the first national title by a northern school since 1979. Minnesota is the only school in the nation to return four players who have earned All-Americans honors among those five starters. After last season, junior Justin Smith was named a third team All-American and senior Matt Anderson was an honorable mention All-American selection. In 2001, seniors Wilhelm Schauman was a third team selection and Simon Nash was an honorable mention choice, after finished 13th at the NCAA Championships. The other starter, David Morgan, returns for his third full season of competition.
"We're a much more experienced team coming into the fall," James said. "We need to use the confidence that we gained at the end of last season and carry it into this year."
| Senior Wilhelm Schauman |
"Justin was outstanding last year in the biggest tournaments," said James. "He needs to continue to build on his success of last season."
Another player that stormed onto the scene late last season and was awarded honorable mention All-American honors was Matt Anderson. Anderson shot a final round 66 in the NCAA Championships which catapulted him to eighth place. His 66 was a career-best and the best round by any individual at NCAAs. The former walk-on, Anderson finished 12th at Big Tens and was fourth on the team in stroke average with a 74.23.
"Matt's a late bloomer who put it all together at the end of last year when we needed him the most. As last season wore on, he became more and more comfortable with collegiate tournament golf and it paid off at NCAAs," James said.
Senior Wilhelm Schauman was named All-Big Ten for the second straight year last season and recorded three top-10 finishes. He finished third on the team in stroke average at 73.59 and shot eight below-par rounds on the year.
"Wilhelm has been a steady player for us his whole career," said James. "We expect him to continue this play in his final year and hope he can go out on a high note."
Nash was named All-Big Ten last season as well and was named to the All-Big Ten Championship team after finishing in fourth place at the conference tournament. Nash's 68 in the third round of the NCAA Championships in awful weather conditions helped the Golden Gophers climb from 16th place to fourth heading into the final day. Nash was second on the team in stroke average at 73.29 and shot four rounds in the 60s as well as 13 rounds of at- or below-par.
| Senior Simon Nash |
Nash comes into the fall after having a successful summer winning the Porter Cup and finishing second at the Players Amateur. He is currently the 12th-ranked amateur in the nation.
The fifth starter returning is junior David Morgan. Morgan played in all nine events in the spring and has the ability to walk out and shoot a low score in any round. He shot four rounds in the 60s including a career low 67 at the Intercollegiate. Morgan won his first collegiate tournament when he tied Nash for co-medalist honors at the Navy Spring Invitational. He was also named co-Big Ten Golfer of the Week with Nash for that win.
"David solidified our lineup last year and we expect him to do the same this season," said James. "We feel really good about the guys coming back, but it won't be a lock for them to keep their positions. We've got depth for the first time in awhile and there's a couple young guys that will be pushing for time."
Among those returning players are Ryan Paulson, Ben Greve and Brad Kirton. This past summer, Paulson was the runner-up at the Minnesota Golf Association Players Championship losing to Morgan in the final. Greve was a quarterfinalist at the MGA Players Championship and at the Pine-to-Palm tournament. And Kirton tied for sixth at the Manitoba Men's Amateur Championship and qualified to play in the Canadian Amateur Championship.
| Senior Matt Anderson |
The schedule is one of the most impressive in recent memory. The spring schedule is highlighted by a trip to the NCAA Shootout in Puerto Rico, the Callaway Golf Intercollegiate in Las Vegas and the National Invitational Tournament in Tucson, Ariz. The Big Ten Championships will be held in Bloomington, Ind., in 2003 and Minnesota will defend its national title in Stillwater, Okla., on May 28-31.
"We've got a great schedule against some of the top teams in the nation," James said. "We're excited about the upcoming year and a chance to defend our titles in the Big Ten and NCAA. Minnesota golf is alive and well, and better than ever."
| 2002 NCAA Golf Champions |
What else could he accomplish? In his first year running the Minnesota men's golf program, he was responsible for leading the Golden Gophers to their first Big Ten title in 30 years and the school's first ever national championship. All that after having his program ticketed for elimination before a fund-raising drive by boosters saved the program. Not bad for a year's work.
"Last year was something special," said James. "It was a wild ride. But, we have to get back to establishing this program as one of the best in the country on a consistent basis. This University and community has made a renewed commitment to the golf programs and that's why I'm still here."
James is still here and so is the entire starting lineup that won the first national title by a northern school since 1979. Minnesota is the only school in the nation to return four players who have earned All-Americans honors among those five starters. After last season, junior Justin Smith was named a third team All-American and senior Matt Anderson was an honorable mention All-American selection. In 2001, seniors Wilhelm Schauman was a third team selection and Simon Nash was an honorable mention choice, after finished 13th at the NCAA Championships. The other starter, David Morgan, returns for his third full season of competition.
"We're a much more experienced team coming into the fall," James said. "We need to use the confidence that we gained at the end of last season and carry it into this year."
| Senior Wilhelm Schauman |
"Justin was outstanding last year in the biggest tournaments," said James. "He needs to continue to build on his success of last season."
Another player that stormed onto the scene late last season and was awarded honorable mention All-American honors was Matt Anderson. Anderson shot a final round 66 in the NCAA Championships which catapulted him to eighth place. His 66 was a career-best and the best round by any individual at NCAAs. The former walk-on, Anderson finished 12th at Big Tens and was fourth on the team in stroke average with a 74.23.
"Matt's a late bloomer who put it all together at the end of last year when we needed him the most. As last season wore on, he became more and more comfortable with collegiate tournament golf and it paid off at NCAAs," James said.
Senior Wilhelm Schauman was named All-Big Ten for the second straight year last season and recorded three top-10 finishes. He finished third on the team in stroke average at 73.59 and shot eight below-par rounds on the year.
"Wilhelm has been a steady player for us his whole career," said James. "We expect him to continue this play in his final year and hope he can go out on a high note."
Nash was named All-Big Ten last season as well and was named to the All-Big Ten Championship team after finishing in fourth place at the conference tournament. Nash's 68 in the third round of the NCAA Championships in awful weather conditions helped the Golden Gophers climb from 16th place to fourth heading into the final day. Nash was second on the team in stroke average at 73.29 and shot four rounds in the 60s as well as 13 rounds of at- or below-par.
| Senior Simon Nash |
Nash comes into the fall after having a successful summer winning the Porter Cup and finishing second at the Players Amateur. He is currently the 12th-ranked amateur in the nation.
The fifth starter returning is junior David Morgan. Morgan played in all nine events in the spring and has the ability to walk out and shoot a low score in any round. He shot four rounds in the 60s including a career low 67 at the Intercollegiate. Morgan won his first collegiate tournament when he tied Nash for co-medalist honors at the Navy Spring Invitational. He was also named co-Big Ten Golfer of the Week with Nash for that win.
"David solidified our lineup last year and we expect him to do the same this season," said James. "We feel really good about the guys coming back, but it won't be a lock for them to keep their positions. We've got depth for the first time in awhile and there's a couple young guys that will be pushing for time."
Among those returning players are Ryan Paulson, Ben Greve and Brad Kirton. This past summer, Paulson was the runner-up at the Minnesota Golf Association Players Championship losing to Morgan in the final. Greve was a quarterfinalist at the MGA Players Championship and at the Pine-to-Palm tournament. And Kirton tied for sixth at the Manitoba Men's Amateur Championship and qualified to play in the Canadian Amateur Championship.
| Senior Matt Anderson |
The schedule is one of the most impressive in recent memory. The spring schedule is highlighted by a trip to the NCAA Shootout in Puerto Rico, the Callaway Golf Intercollegiate in Las Vegas and the National Invitational Tournament in Tucson, Ariz. The Big Ten Championships will be held in Bloomington, Ind., in 2003 and Minnesota will defend its national title in Stillwater, Okla., on May 28-31.
"We've got a great schedule against some of the top teams in the nation," James said. "We're excited about the upcoming year and a chance to defend our titles in the Big Ten and NCAA. Minnesota golf is alive and well, and better than ever."
