MIAC Release
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Two Saint John’s University student-athletes and head coach Bob Alpers earned 2009-10 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Men’s Golf awards on Monday, May 10. Sophomore Tony Krogen (Marshall, Minn.) was named the MIAC Player of the Year, freshman Mark Giorgi (Red Wing, Minn.) was named the MIAC Freshman of the Year, and Alpers was named the MIAC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Krogen won the 2009 MIAC Championships at Bunker Hills, setting the tournament record by shooting a three-under par 213 during the 54-hole event. He also won the SJU Spring Invitational with a three-under par total during that 54-hole meet. Krogen leads the MIAC and the entire Central Region with a 73.06 stroke average. He has five top-eight finishes in eight events this season. An SJU student-athlete has now claimed MIAC Player of the Year honors each of the past 10 seasons.
Giorgi (george-ee) played every varsity match for the MIAC-Champion Johnnies in 2009-10. He tied for medalist honors at the Twin Cities Classic by shooting a two-under par 70 at the Links at Northfork. He has five top-five finishes and seven top-10 finishes in eight events this season. Giorgi is the No. 3-ranked golfer in the MIAC and the Central Region, according to GolfStat, with his 74.00 stroke average (Division III competition only).
Alpers has guided the Johnnies to eight MIAC titles and 11 consecutive NCAA appearances, including back-to-back national championships in 2007 and 2008, in 17 seasons with the Johnnies. SJU has finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Division III Championship eight of the 10 appearances. A three-time GCAA Eaton Golf Pride Regional Coach of the Year, including 2007 and 2008, Alpers has now earned MIAC Coach of the Year honors eight times in his coaching career (1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010).
Junior Ben Cahill (Grand Rapids, Minn.) was named to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for the second straight year. Cahill currently has a 75.2 stroke average with two top-five finishes this season.
The Johnnies make their 11th consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III Championship this Tuesday-Friday, May 11-14, in Hershey, Pa. The Johnnies are scheduled to begin play at 8:30 a.m. CST Tuesday at the Hershey C.C., followed by second-round action at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Hershey Links G.C. The field of 37 teams is then cut to 23 for Thursday and Friday’s rounds at Hershey Links.