Champion Yellowjackets' sweep UMAC men's golf awards
ST. PAUL, Minn.---The 2019 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Men's Golf Championship saw the largest margin of victory since 2010 with the University of Wisconsin-Superior emerging victorious by 34 strokes for a second-consecutive team title. The champion Yellowjackets now headling the postseason awards earning five all-conference accolades and sweeping the top four honors, it was announced Monday.
Yellowjackets Head Coach Paul Eberhardt was selected Coach of the Year by his peers for the third year in a row. Ryan Peterson finished as the medalist Saturday shooting three-consecutive even rounds while senior Joey Cummings was voted Player fot he Year. First-year 'Jacket Zac Joki was tabbed the Rookie of the Year.
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Championship Site |
Championship Results |
Eberhardt's Yellowjackets came into the tournament as the favorites after leading the conference in scoring average (312.9 strokes per round) prior to the Championship. The victory Saturday was the third team win for the Yellowjackets this season including the UMAC Preview on Sept. 5. In the opening round Thursday, the Yellowjackets carded a score of 306 (+18) to build a 16-stroke lead over runner-up College of St. Scholastica. They then cruised in round two with a tournament low 301 (+13) Friday before finishing with 303 (+15) for a total score of 910 (+46). All five Yellowjackets finished in the top 11 in the tournament and were all First Team selections.
Leading the way at the UMAC Championship for the Yellowjackets was junior Peterson who became the second Yellowjacket to earn medalist honors in the last three seasons. Peterson carded even rounds of 72 all three days to finish with a score of 216 (E) that was the best since 2010. He held just a one-stroke lead over teammate Cummings heading into the final round before winning by three strokes.
Cummings was the picture of consistency all season for the Yellowjackets. The senior and former UMAC medalist (2017) capped off the fall leading the conference in scoring average (76.5 strokes per round). He earn medalist honors at the UMAC Preview and was named the UMAC Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks early in the season. Cummings recorded season-low round of 71 (-1) at the Midwest Region Classic and matched Peterson on day one of the UMAC Championship with an even round of 72.
While experience led the Yellowjackets this season, incoming talent like Joki helped elevate the team's level of play. The Rookie of the Year winner finished 11th at the UMAC Championship and ranked eighth in UMAC scoring average (78.7) prior to the tournament. Joki was second at the UMAC Preview and recorded a season-low round of 72 (+1) at the Twin Ports Collegiate to begin the season.
Cummings, Peterson and fellow Yellowjacket Tyler Smith yield a trio of three-time All-UMAC First Team honorees, while University of Northwestern senior Nick Mahowald is the only player this fall who earned his fourth career All-UMAC award. Anthony Ahrens of St. Scholastica picked up his second-straight All-UMAC finish, while Liam Butche was named to one of both teams for the third time in as many seasons.
The remainder of the UMAC First Team all-conference performers by virtue of finishing top eight (including ties) plus two additional coaches' votes includes Sam Albrecht (Wisconsin-Superior), Noah Johnson (Northwestern), Braxton Sathers (St. Scholastica), Otis Walvatne (Northland College) and Zackary Zuberbier (Martin Luther College). The Honorable Mention list includes Stephen Biebert (Martin Luther), Kyle Lindemann (Martin Luther), Vladimir Nitardy (Bethany Lutheran College), Michael Talbot (St. Scholastica) and Isaac Wright (North Central University).
Crown won the team sportsmanship award, an accolade that is selected by the UMAC coaches and awarded to the team that best represents sportsmanship throughout the entire season, including the championship event. Each team also had one representative named to the individual sportsmanship award list.
2019 Medalist* - Ryan Peterson, Wisconsin-Superior
Player of the Year^ - Joey Cummings, Wisconsin-Superior
Rookie of the Year# - Zac Joki, Wisconsin-Superior
Coach of the Year - Paul Eberhardt, Wisconsin-Superior
2018 UMAC Men's Golf All-Conference First Team
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| Anthony Ahrens |
St. Scholastica |
Jr. |
Virginia, Minn./Virginia |
| Sam Albrecht |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Jr. |
Gilbert, Minn./Eveleth-Gilbert |
| Liam Butche |
St. Scholastica |
Jr. |
Duluth, Minn./Duluth East |
| Joey Cummings^ |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Sr. |
Duluth, Minn./Duluth East |
| Noah Johnson |
Northwestern |
Jr. |
Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View |
| Zac Joki# |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Fy. |
Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown |
| Nick Mahowald |
Northwestern |
Sr. |
Watertown, S.D./Watertown |
| Ryan Peterson* |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Jr. |
Duluth, Minn./Duluth East |
| Braxton Sathers |
St. Scholastica |
Jr. |
Duluth, Minn./Proctor |
| Tyler Smith |
Wisconsin-Superior |
So. |
Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View |
| Otis Walvatne |
Northland |
So. |
St. Louis Park, Minn. |
| Zackary Zuberbier |
Martin Luther |
Sr. |
Milwaukee, Wis./Martin Luther |
2019 UMAC Men's Golf All-Conference Honorable Mention
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| Stephen Biebert |
Martin Luther |
So. |
Neillsville, Wis./Luther Prep |
| Kyle Lindemann |
Martin Luther |
So. |
Lewiston, Minn./Luther Prep |
| Vladimir Nitardy |
Bethany Lutheran |
So. |
Fort Atkinson, Wis./Luther Prep |
| Michael Talbot |
St. Scholastica |
So. |
Anoka, Minn./Anoka |
| Isaac Wright |
North Central |
Jr. |
Waupaca, Wis./Waupaca |
2019 UMAC Men's Golf Sportsmanship Awards
Team Award - Crown
Bethany Lutheran - Tom Havnen, So., Fairmont, Minn./Fairmont
Crown - Logan Brunsting, So., Hull, Iowa/Boyden-Hull
Martin Luther - Zackary Zuberbier, Sr., Milwaukee, Wis./Martin Luther
Minnesota Morris - Kyle Hastings, Sr., Circle Pines, Minn./Centennial
North Central - Ben Majerle, Sr., Little Falls, Minn./Little Falls
Northland - John Davis, Sr., Kernville, Calif./Kern Valley
Northwestern - Noah Johnson, Jr., Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View
St. Scholastica - Spencer Viita, Sr. Cook, Minn./North Woods
Wisconsin-Superior - Sam Albrecht, Jr., Gilbert, Minn./Eveleth-Gilbert