SJU looks to defend its 2008 conference title at the 2009 MIAC Championship this Saturday-Monday, Oct. 3-5, at Bunker Hills G.C. in Coon Rapids. The first round is scheduled for 11 a.m. - Directions | MIAC Championship Website

Preview Video:
-Head Coach Bob Alpers (3:47)

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: No. 6 Saint John's won the windy Wis.-Eau Claire Invitational on Monday, Sept. 28. This was SJU's second invitational win in a row. The Johnnies shot a 324, their highest varsity round (324) since 2006, to finish with a 626 (+58). SJU shot a 326 at the 2006 Twin Cities Classic, a span of 36 meets and 74 rounds of play. St. Thomas finished second with a 627 (+59), followed by Gustavus Adolphus (628, +60), Wisconsin-Stout (630, +62) and Wisconsin-Eau Claire II (632, +64). Senior Ben Vangsness (Alexandria, Minn.) led SJU with a nine-over 151 to tie for second overall. Freshman Mark Giorgi (Red Wing, Minn.) tied for fifth with a 154 (+12), while sophomore Tony Krogen (Marshall, Minn.) posted a 160 (+18). Junior Ben Cahill (Grand Rapids, Minn.) and freshman Dennis Granath (Bandhagen, Sweden/Farsta Gymnasium) finished with a 161 (+19) and 162 (+20), respectively.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Vangsness was named the Co-MIAC Men's Golf Athlete of the Week on Tuesday, Sept. 29. He earned this honor for his performance at the Frank Wrigglesworth Invitational held in Eau Claire, Wis. Vangsness shot a 71-80-151 to place in a tie for second. This is the third consecutive week that a SJU has earned this honor, as Granath was named the Men's Golf Athlete of the Week each of the previous two weeks.

LAST YEAR'S MEET: At last year's conference championship, Saint John's won its fourth MIAC Men's Golf Championship in the last five years with a three-day total of 889 (+25). The title clinched the Johnnies' 10th consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III Championship. The Johnnies were led by then senior Joe Schoolmeesters, who claimed medalist honors with a three-day total of 218 (+2). Vangsness finished fourth overall with a 222 (+6), while Cahill tied for seventh with a 228 (+12). - Results

MOVING ON UP: The Johnnies moved up four spots to No. 6 in the latest Golf World Division III poll released Sept. 24. - Poll