University of Minnesota Athletics
B1G Watch List Announced
8/30/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Rúnar Arnorsson, Riley Johnson and Thomas Longbella are included on the list of Big Ten Golfers to Watch in 2017-18. The University of Minnesota men's golf team begins its season with the Gopher Invitational at Windsong Farm Golf Club Sept. 10-11.
Arnorsson, a senior co-captain from Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, holds the Golden Gophers' 18-hole record. He carded a 62 and went on to win the Barona Collegiate Cup as a sophomore. Arnorsson has played in three Big Ten Championships. He held a career-best 73.70 stroke average last season.
Johnson is the team's other senior co-captain. The Fargo, N.D., native has played in the Big Ten Championships every year of his career. Johnson ranked second on the team with a 73.03 scoring average last season. Ninety percent of his rounds counted toward the team score.
Longbella turned in a 73.04 average as a freshman last year. The Chippewa Falls, Wis., native led the team in two tournaments and had 24 of his 27 rounds count. Longbella's team-low fall average of 71.33 was the best by a Minnesota freshman in at least the past 10 years. He tallied two top-20 finishes.
The Gopher Invitational will start with 36 holes on Saturday, Sept. 10 and conclude with 18 on Sunday, Sept. 11. Admission is free, and food will be available for purchase. Volunteer opportunities are open, and volunteers will receive a free shirt, hat and lunch. Click here to learn more.
Last year's Gopher Invitational had the 17th-strongest field according to Golfweek. The 2017 field will again be strong, featuring the national champion Oklahoma Sooners and seven other teams who played at the NCAA Championships.
