University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Ink Three Recruits
11/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Nov. 12, 2015 
The University of Minnesota men's golf team announced the signing of three incoming Golden Gophers to National Letters of Intent. The trio will be eligible to compete for head coach John Carlson and assistant coach Justin Smith beginning in fall of 2016.
"The 2016 class is comprised of two players from the Midwest and one player from Pennsylvania," Carlson said. "Keeping the top talent in the Midwest home will always be a primary goal in our recruiting efforts. Leadership, an elite level of ball striking and a history of winning championships best describes our 2016 recruiting class. We are excited to challenge each of them to compete for a starting position on a team returning a strong senior class and underclassmen with extensive collegiate playing experience."
Mason Fiddle, from White Bear Lake, Minn., was part of the White Bear Lake team that won three straight section 4AAA Championships and placed fourth at the 2015 Minnesota Class AAA State Tournament. Fiddle tied for seventh as a junior at the 2015 state tournament and was a section medalist in 2015. He was named a 2014 all-state golfer and was an All-Suburban East Conference selection in 2015. He finished 2015 ranked the No. 1 Class AAA golfer by the Minnesota Golf Coaches Association.
Fiddle finished second at a 2015 Junior PGA Championship qualifier and finished fifth at the 2015 Minnesota Section Junior PGA Championship. He won the 2014 MEA Fall Classic tournament at Edina Country Club in Edina, Minn. He competed at the 2014 and 2015 Minnesota State Junior Boys' Championship.
"Mason is a player who possesses great leadership qualities both on and off the golf course," Smith said. "Mason has shown that he can win at any level and by any margin. That's the mentality we want in the Gopher men's golf program."
Thomas Longbella, a native of Chippewa Falls, Wis., won the 2014 WIAA Division 3 state championship by 7 strokes. He tied for seventh at the 2013 state championship as a freshman, and tied for eighth as a junior in 2015. Longbella has earned medalist honors in 30 of his 40 tournaments played for McDonnell Central Catholic High School. He was a first-team all-state selection in both 2014 and 2015, and was named third-team all-state in 2013. Longbella has won three regional titles, two sectional titles and three Cloverbelt Conference season titles as an individual and led his team to two straight sectional championships.
Longbella participated in the 2014 and 2015 US Junior Amateur Tournaments. He also competed in the 2014 Junior PGA Championship. He won the 2015 WSGA Junior Boys Championship and the 2014 Wisconsin PGA Junior Championship, along with age-level state junior championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
"Every time I watch Thomas play, I am more and more impressed with his elite ball striking," Smith said. "Thomas's game is ready to make an immediate impact at the Big Ten level. We look forward to helping him achieve these goals as a Gopher."
Gus Minkin, from York, Pa., had two top-10 finishes in the PIAA State Championship, tying for eighth in 2014 and finishing fifth in 2015. He won the 2015 Eastern Regional tournament, and an eagle putt on the 17th hole helped him earn the 2015 District 3-AAA title. He also won the 2015 YAIAA individual championship while playing for Central York High School.
Minkin won the 2015 IJGT Labor Day Classic. He finished fourth at the 2015 Williamson Cup and tied for 20th at the Pennsylvania Junior Boys' Championship. He finished second at the 2014 Pennsylvania Golf Association Junior Boys' Championship. He was selected to take part in 2015 War of the Roses event contested between golfers from York, Pa., and Lancaster, Pa. Minkin also participated in the 2015 Pennsylvania State Amateur.
"Gus has an incredible ability to dominate a golf course from tee to green," Smith said. "His game and mentality are ready for the most pressure-packed events in college golf. We can't wait to see his game progress at the Big Ten level."
"The 2016 class is comprised of two players from the Midwest and one player from Pennsylvania," Carlson said. "Keeping the top talent in the Midwest home will always be a primary goal in our recruiting efforts. Leadership, an elite level of ball striking and a history of winning championships best describes our 2016 recruiting class. We are excited to challenge each of them to compete for a starting position on a team returning a strong senior class and underclassmen with extensive collegiate playing experience."
Mason Fiddle, from White Bear Lake, Minn., was part of the White Bear Lake team that won three straight section 4AAA Championships and placed fourth at the 2015 Minnesota Class AAA State Tournament. Fiddle tied for seventh as a junior at the 2015 state tournament and was a section medalist in 2015. He was named a 2014 all-state golfer and was an All-Suburban East Conference selection in 2015. He finished 2015 ranked the No. 1 Class AAA golfer by the Minnesota Golf Coaches Association.
Fiddle finished second at a 2015 Junior PGA Championship qualifier and finished fifth at the 2015 Minnesota Section Junior PGA Championship. He won the 2014 MEA Fall Classic tournament at Edina Country Club in Edina, Minn. He competed at the 2014 and 2015 Minnesota State Junior Boys' Championship.
"Mason is a player who possesses great leadership qualities both on and off the golf course," Smith said. "Mason has shown that he can win at any level and by any margin. That's the mentality we want in the Gopher men's golf program."
Thomas Longbella, a native of Chippewa Falls, Wis., won the 2014 WIAA Division 3 state championship by 7 strokes. He tied for seventh at the 2013 state championship as a freshman, and tied for eighth as a junior in 2015. Longbella has earned medalist honors in 30 of his 40 tournaments played for McDonnell Central Catholic High School. He was a first-team all-state selection in both 2014 and 2015, and was named third-team all-state in 2013. Longbella has won three regional titles, two sectional titles and three Cloverbelt Conference season titles as an individual and led his team to two straight sectional championships.
Longbella participated in the 2014 and 2015 US Junior Amateur Tournaments. He also competed in the 2014 Junior PGA Championship. He won the 2015 WSGA Junior Boys Championship and the 2014 Wisconsin PGA Junior Championship, along with age-level state junior championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
"Every time I watch Thomas play, I am more and more impressed with his elite ball striking," Smith said. "Thomas's game is ready to make an immediate impact at the Big Ten level. We look forward to helping him achieve these goals as a Gopher."
Gus Minkin, from York, Pa., had two top-10 finishes in the PIAA State Championship, tying for eighth in 2014 and finishing fifth in 2015. He won the 2015 Eastern Regional tournament, and an eagle putt on the 17th hole helped him earn the 2015 District 3-AAA title. He also won the 2015 YAIAA individual championship while playing for Central York High School.
Minkin won the 2015 IJGT Labor Day Classic. He finished fourth at the 2015 Williamson Cup and tied for 20th at the Pennsylvania Junior Boys' Championship. He finished second at the 2014 Pennsylvania Golf Association Junior Boys' Championship. He was selected to take part in 2015 War of the Roses event contested between golfers from York, Pa., and Lancaster, Pa. Minkin also participated in the 2015 Pennsylvania State Amateur.
"Gus has an incredible ability to dominate a golf course from tee to green," Smith said. "His game and mentality are ready for the most pressure-packed events in college golf. We can't wait to see his game progress at the Big Ten level."
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