Former University of Minnesota golfer Clayton Rask was named Honorable Mention All-America today by Golfweek magazine. Rask becomes the eighth different golfer to be named an All-American in Director of Golf Brad James' seven-year tenure. Eight different golfers have earned 15 All-America citations in the past seven seasons and Rask becomes the 25th Golden Gopher golfer to earn All-America honors.
Last week, Rask started the next chapter in his golf career as he shot a 72-hole score of 5-under 283 at the Canadian Tour's Spring Qualifying School and earned exempt status for the remainder of the 2008 Canadian Professional Tour. His first professional tour start will take place on June 12 in the Times Colonist Open at the Uplands Golf Course in Victoria, British Columbia.
Rask's senior season was productive, as the Elk River graduate led the Gophers in the fall and spring seasons in stroke average at 71.33 and 74, respectively. He compiled seven top 20 finishes this season, six of which were also top-10 finishes. He finished tied for first in back-to-back tournaments, the Windon Memorial and the Prestige at PGA West. Rask also garnered his First Team All-Big Ten honors.
A four-time letterwinner at the University of Minnesota, Rask finished his Gopher career with a 74.47 stroke average. He recorded a stroke average of 72.94 as a senior, the 16th best single-season average in school history. Rask left Minnesota with records as well, as his 206 in the Windon Memorial Classic as a senior ties him for the fourth lowest 54-hole score in school history. Also, he shot 140 in the Administaff ASU Invitational as a senior, the second lowest 36-hole score in school history and shot 66 and 65 in back-to-back days of the aforementioned Windon Memorial, tying for the fifth and fourth lowest 18-hole score, respectively, in school history.
