The Gustavus men’s golf team has been selected by the Golf Coaches Association of America as the Academic National Champions for Division III. Coach Scott Moe’s 2008-09 squad was the only team in Division III to post a cumulative team grade point average above 3.50. This is the first year that the GCAA has honored teams for their academic standing.
The members of the 2008-09 men’s golf team included John Anderson (Appleton, Wis.), Dan Barthell (Bloomington, Minn.), Ben Bauknecht (San Diego, Calif.), Mike Boosalis (Minneapolis, Minn.), Ricky Copeland (Mahtomedi, Minn.), Josh Curb (Bemidji, Minn.), Andrew Evenson (Pelican Rapids, Minn.), Derek Hilding (Spicer, Minn.), A.J. Olson (White Bear Lake, Minn.), Greg Palm (Orinda, Calif.), Alex Pederson (Kiester, Minn.), Robert Schmidt (New Germany, Minn.), and Alex Woodhull (Minnetonka, Minn.).
To be eligible for GCAA All-Academic Team honors an institution must submit the grade point averages earned and hours attempted for each player on its official squad list for the entire academic year. A total of 82 teams submitted GPAs of 3.00 or higher and earned All-Academic Team recognition. An elite group of only 11 schools in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III and the NAIA, compiled team grade point averages above 3.5. Joining Gustavus in that group were Belmont, Detroit Mercy, East Carolina, East Tennessee State, Georgia Tech, Gustavus Adolphus, Ohio Dominican, Rice, Savannah College of Art and Design, Seton Hall and St. Mary’s (Texas). This group was awarded President’s Special Recognition status.
Individually, junior A.J. Olson was recognized by the GCAA as a Division III Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar for his play on the links as well as his work in the classroom. Olson ranked second on the team with a 78.0 scoring average during the 2008-09 season. To be eligible for Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar status an individual must be a junior or senior academically and competed in at least two full years at the collegiate level, participate in 70-percent of his teams competitive rounds or compete in the NCAA Championship, 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.
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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510