University of Minnesota Athletics
Men's Golf Signs Two to NLIs
11/14/2019 4:42:00 PM | Men's Golf
MINNEAPOLIS – Head coach Justin Smith has announced the signing of two student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to join the Minnesota men's golf program. Signing NLIs with the Golden Gophers are Alex Eickhoff and Ben Warian, who will both join the team for the 2020-21 season.
"Ben and Alex will bring a level of excellence that will make an impact in all areas of our program," Smith said. "We are looking to bring in student-athletes that excel at a very high level on the course, in the classroom and in the community. Both Ben and Alex have won and competed in some of the biggest junior events in the country. We want individuals to come to Minnesota who are ready for the highest stage in college golf.
"We are thrilled to have Ben, Alex, and their entire families officially join our Gopher Men's Golf Program."
A native of Hillsboro, Ill., Eickhoff competes for Hillsboro High School. This fall he finished fifth in the Illinois High School Association Class 1A State Tournament, capping a career that included four Top-10 medals at state, including a sixth-place finish as a junior and eighth in his freshman year. As a sophomore, he was named the State Journal Register's 2016-17 Prairie Boys Golfer of the Year as he finished seventh individual and led his school to a fourth-place finish.
Eickhoff currently ranks No. 129 in the American Junior Golf Association's rankings and is the top player in the state of Illinois. He played in four AJGA tournaments this summer, highlighted by a second-place finish at the Bubba Conlee National Junior.
Warian is an in-state product from Stillwater, Minn., and attends Hill-Murray School. He has finished in the top 15 of each of the three Minnesota State High School League State Tournament in which he has competed, highlighted by this past season where he shot a 1-over 145 to finish as the runner-up and lead his team to a sixth-place finish. Previously, he tied for 14th as a sophomore and seventh as a freshman.
On the AJGA circuit, Warian ranks third in Minnesota and 325th nationally. He competed in two tournaments this summer, finishing tied for third at the Wincraft/McArthur Towel & Sports Future Legends and tied for 13th at the Bass Pro Shops/Payne Stewart Junior Championship.
"Ben and Alex will bring a level of excellence that will make an impact in all areas of our program," Smith said. "We are looking to bring in student-athletes that excel at a very high level on the course, in the classroom and in the community. Both Ben and Alex have won and competed in some of the biggest junior events in the country. We want individuals to come to Minnesota who are ready for the highest stage in college golf.
"We are thrilled to have Ben, Alex, and their entire families officially join our Gopher Men's Golf Program."
A native of Hillsboro, Ill., Eickhoff competes for Hillsboro High School. This fall he finished fifth in the Illinois High School Association Class 1A State Tournament, capping a career that included four Top-10 medals at state, including a sixth-place finish as a junior and eighth in his freshman year. As a sophomore, he was named the State Journal Register's 2016-17 Prairie Boys Golfer of the Year as he finished seventh individual and led his school to a fourth-place finish.
Eickhoff currently ranks No. 129 in the American Junior Golf Association's rankings and is the top player in the state of Illinois. He played in four AJGA tournaments this summer, highlighted by a second-place finish at the Bubba Conlee National Junior.
Warian is an in-state product from Stillwater, Minn., and attends Hill-Murray School. He has finished in the top 15 of each of the three Minnesota State High School League State Tournament in which he has competed, highlighted by this past season where he shot a 1-over 145 to finish as the runner-up and lead his team to a sixth-place finish. Previously, he tied for 14th as a sophomore and seventh as a freshman.
On the AJGA circuit, Warian ranks third in Minnesota and 325th nationally. He competed in two tournaments this summer, finishing tied for third at the Wincraft/McArthur Towel & Sports Future Legends and tied for 13th at the Bass Pro Shops/Payne Stewart Junior Championship.
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