University of Minnesota Athletics
Arnorsson, Johnson Reflect on Successful Careers
4/27/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
MINNEAPOLIS -- When seniors RÃÆ'Æ'Æ'ºnar Arnorsson and Riley Johnson were named co-captains of the Minnesota men's golf team in September, it was just the latest in a line of many experiences they've shared together. Both players have travelled for almost all of their careers as Golden Gophers, beginning their freshman year. They've both experienced success on the course, and they've both been leaders off of it.
But arriving as freshmen, their experiences couldn't have been more different. For Johnson, the University of Minnesota was a no-brainer. A native of Fargo, N.D., he had always cheered for the Gophers.
"Growing up, I watched football, basketball, hockey, and I wasn't good at those sports," Johnson said. "I decided maybe I could be on the golf team. When coach came calling, I knew right then and there."
For Arnorsson, the experience was markedly different. A native of HafnarfjÃÆ'Æ'Æ'¶rÃÆ'Æ'Æ'°ur, Iceland , he didn't experience any recruiting process. Instead, he was recommended for the team by a former coach and teammate who was coaching at Macalester College. Eight months before the season started, he received a Facebook message asking if he was interested in joining the University of Minnesota.
Arnorsson arrived on campus blind -- he had never been to Minnesota or met anyone in the University of Minnesota golf program. It made for a more difficult to his college career than most experience.
"I came in knowing no one on the team," he said. "It was obviously an adjustment, not just not having English as my first language, but having to take care of myself in a different country."
A close-knit team helped them adjust to life as college athletes. For Arnorsson, this camaraderie gave him a support system far from home. And for both, the closeness is a highlight of their Gopher experience.
"I've had a lot of teammates, and a lot of them I still keep in contact with," Johnson said. "The team atmosphere has been so fun. That's what I'll always look back on, to the day I die; the relationships that I've made through my four years here."
Of course, for every intangible career highlight, there's a performance of which to be proud. Arnorsson experienced this his sophomore year, when he won the Barona Collegiate Cup in the spring of 2016. With his 10-under round of 62, he broke a 17-year-old school record set of 63 set by James McLean. What made it even more special was sharing it with his teammates.
"That tournament showed how close we are as a team," Arnorsson said. "What I remember most is walking off the 18th hole and just seeing my teammates. It was so fun having them there, cheering me on."
Each player had another big highlight this past fall to start their senior year. On Sept. 8, Johnson and Arnorsson were named co-captains of the 2017-2018 team.
"It fills me with pride," Arnorsson said. "We don't have many sports that choose to name team captains. I take great pride in the fact that the coaches had the trust in me and Riley to act as co-captains. I'll always be grateful for getting that opportunity."
Arnorsson and Johnson make a good duo, as far as captains go. As the oldest person on the team, Arnorsson gets a chance to guide the younger players, acting as a mentor. As an out-of-state student, Johnson is able to relate to team members who also find themselves far from home.
"I feel like RÃÆ'Æ'Æ'ºnar and I do a good job," Johnson said. "We try to inspire and motivate the guys and reflect on what being a Gopher golfer means. He has a different personality than I do, which makes a great captaincy."
The team is on their minds as the Big Ten Championship approaches. Set to begin Friday, Big Tens is one of the last chances that the 2017-2018 team competes together. For the co-captains, it is one of the last tournaments they will compete in for the University of Minnesota.
While this offers one more chance for a career round, it's also a bittersweet moment. Leaving behind the University of Minnesota means leaving behind fantastic opportunities such as free golf, top-notch courses and good competition. But it also means leaving behind the relationships built over four years.
"This year has been filled with a lot of 'lasts,'" Arnorsson said. "It's a bittersweet feeling, being almost done. I know in a couple years, I'll look back and think, 'man, I wish I was still in college.' I think it will sink in once it's over. I'm just trying to enjoy every moment of this semester."
But golf is still in the future for both players. Johnson plans to move south, to a place where he's able to play golf year-round. Arnorsson is going to head back to Iceland, where his family and girlfriend are, and perhaps go to the European Tour Qualifying School. This would give him a chance to play on the European Tour, the second-largest tour in the world.
For now, the semester isn't completely over. There's still at least one tournament left to play as a Gopher. With successful, fulfilling careers behind them, all that's left is to enjoy the experience.
"This has been everything and more of what I've expected," Johnson said. " I've always wanted to play Gopher golf. This has been a dream come true."
Players Mentioned
