University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Are Big Ten's Team of Decade
1/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
The Minnesota Golden Gopher golf program was the clear top Big Ten men’s golf program of the decade during the 2000s. The Gophers average finish at the Big Ten Championships was 2.5, easily the best in the conference and they finished in the top half every year including nine top four finishes,
three titles and three runner-ups. The next best was Northwestern with an average of 4.2, followed by Purdue (4.4) and Ohio State (4.7).
The conference championships accomplishments were in addition to a huge decade on the national scene. In 2002, the Gophers won their first national championship, becoming the first northern school since 1972 to do so. They made six NCAA Finals appearances in the decade, the most among Big Ten schools, including top ten finishes in 2006 (T-3rd) and 2007 (9th). Purdue and Northwestern were a distant second with four NCAA Finals berths in the decade. Only Michigan, Purdue and Northwestern managed top 10 NCAA finishes during the 2000s. The Gophers also led the Big Ten with nine NCAA Regionals berths in the decade as well. The Gophers picked up 15 All-America awards during the decade, highlighted by Bronson La'Cassie becoming the first four-time All-American in school history (2004-07).
| Big Ten Championships Standings (2000-09) | ||
| Rk | Team | Avg. Finish |
| 1 | Minnesota | 2.5 |
| 2 | Northwestern | 4.2 |
| 3 | Purdue | 4.4 |
| 4 | Ohio State | 4.7 |
| 5 | Michigan State | 5.4 |
| 6 | Illinois | 5.6 |
| 7 | Indiana | 5.8 |
| 8 | Penn State | 7.4 |
| 9 | Michigan | 8.0 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 8.4 |
| 11 | Iowa | 8.8 |
