Region All-Freshman Team | Region Coach of the Year | All-America Scholar
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Two Saint John's University golfers and head coach Bob Alpers brought in another round of regional awards, a day after the MIAC Men's Golf awards were handed out, on Tuesday, May 11. Freshman Mark Giorgi (Red Wing, Minn.) was named the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Central Region Freshman of the Year, junior Ben Cahill (Grand Rapids, Minn.) was named a Division III Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar, and Alpers earned Eaton Golf Pride Central Region Coach of the Year honors for the fourth time in his career.
The 2010 MIAC Freshman of the Year, 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). Giorgi is the fifth Johnnie in school history to receive the honor. Members of the All-Freshmen Team are eligible for the Phil Mickelson Award presented by the Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation as the most outstanding freshman in Division III men's golf. The Mickelson Award will be presented Friday, May 14, following the final round of the NCAA Division III Championship.
Cahill, meanwhile, is an accounting major with a 3.41 GPA. He was named to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for the second straight year in 2010 and currently has a 75.2 stroke average with two top-five finishes this season. To be eligible for Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar status, an individual must be a junior or senior academically and compete in at least two full years at the collegiate level; participate in 70-percent of his team's competitive rounds or compete in the NCAA Championships; have a stroke average under 79.0 in Division III; and maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.2. A recipient must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at his college or university. The Johnnies have now had at least one All-America Scholar in each of the past 11 seasons (22 overall).
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. Alpers earned MIAC Coach of the Year honors for the eighth time in 2010. The regional coaches of the year are also candidates for the Eaton Golf Pride National Coach of the Year, which will be announced June 7. Alpers received the honor in 2007.
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.
