Photo by Alicia Korpi, Ignite the Light Photography
UW-Superior Wins UMAC Men’s Golf Championship; North Central’s Sweeney Wins Playoff to Earn Medalist Honors
BECKER, Minn. – University of Wisconsin-Superior won the 2023 UMAC Men’s Golf Championship on Saturday at the Pebble Creek Gold Club. The Yellowjackets shot a round of 315 (+27) to finish the three-round championship with a team score of 931 (+67), winning the title by 16 strokes.
Jake Sweeney of North Central University earned the medalist honors at the championship. Sweeney shot a 71 (-1) on Saturday to jump up from a tie for sixth overall after Friday’s second round up to first on Saturday. Both Sweeney and Shane Seiffert of the University of Northwestern finished the championship in first place in the player standings after shooting 227 (+11) through three rounds, leading to a playoff. The two battled to a stalemate for three holes, but on the fourth green, Sweeney sank a clutch putt that led to him winning the playoff and securing the medalist title.
Nate Burke led UW-Superior with a 228 (+12) to finish third overall and help lead the Yellowjackets to their fifth conference championship in the past six years. Andrew Rude followed with a 230 (+14), shooting the best third round for UWS with a 75 (+3) on Saturday. Connor Willard tied for sixth overall after shooting a 79 (+7) to total 234 (+18) for the championship. Blu Anderson had a fourth top-ten finish for the Yellowjackets, coming in ninth overall with a 239 (+23). TJ Sitek shot a 266 (+50) for UW-Superior, finishing 26
th overall.
Northwestern finished second as a team, shooting 947 (+83) over the championship weekend. Following first-place Seiffert for the Eagles was Jackson Nyhus, who finished in fifth place with a score of 232 (+16). Mason Heidgerken and Gordon Skarr both tied for 11
th overall, shooting identical scores of 244 (+28).
North Central placed third in the team standings. Sweeney led the way for the Rams with his first-place score. Jacob Brown followed with a 234 (+18) to tie for sixth overall. Ben Long shot a 75 (+3) in the third round to move up to eighth overall in the player standings.
Crown finished in fourth with Steven Petkau leading the Polars with a 246 (+30) to tie for 13
th overall. Martin Luther followed in fifth place as Sam Hansen led the Knights with a 243 (+27) to place 10
th overall. Bethany Lutheran took sixth place with Keaton Ginter shooting a 246 (+30) for the Vikings to join the tie for 13
th overall. Minnesota Morris finished seventh as a team as Mattiaas Warrington led the Cougars with a 262 (+46) at the championship. Northland placed eighth with Andrew Yocum scoring a 258 (+42) for the Lumberjacks to finish tied for 21
st overall.
FINAL STANDINGS
| Place |
Team |
Day 1 |
Day 2 |
Day 3 |
Total |
| 1. |
UW-Superior |
301 (+13) |
315 (+27) |
315 (+27) |
931 (+67) |
| 2. |
Northwestern |
319 (+31) |
311 (+23) |
317 (+29) |
947 (+83) |
| 3. |
North Central |
321 (+33) |
323 (+35) |
307 (+19) |
951 (+87) |
| 4. |
Crown |
339 (+51) |
338 (+50) |
325 (+37) |
1002 (+138) |
| 5. |
Martin Luther |
344 (+56) |
330 (+42) |
337 (+49) |
1011 (+147) |
| 6. |
Bethany Lutheran |
351 (+63) |
346 (+58) |
337 (+49) |
1034 (+170) |
| 7. |
Minnesota Morris |
353 (+65) |
348 (+60) |
363 (+75) |
1064 (+200) |
| 8. |
Northland |
361 (+73) |
378 (+90) |
362 (+74) |
1101 (+237) |
FINAL PLAYER LEADERBOARD – TOP TEN
| Place |
Player |
Team |
First Round |
Second Round |
Third Round |
Final Score |
| 1. |
*Jake Sweeney |
North Central |
79 |
77 |
71 |
227 (+11) |
| 2. |
Shane Seiffert |
Northwestern |
75 |
75 |
77 |
227 (+11) |
| 3. |
Nate Burke |
UW-Superior |
72 |
77 |
79 |
228 (+12) |
| 4. |
Andrew Rude |
UW-Superior |
74 |
81 |
75 |
230 (+14) |
| 5. |
Jackson Nyhus |
Northwestern |
79 |
73 |
80 |
232 (+16) |
| T6. |
Jacob Brown |
North Central |
75 |
81 |
78 |
234 (+18) |
| T6. |
Conner Willard |
UW-Superior |
75 |
80 |
79 |
234 (+18) |
| 8. |
Ben Long |
North Central |
82 |
79 |
75 |
236 (+20) |
| 9. |
Blu Anderson |
UW-Superior |
80 |
77 |
82 |
239 (+23) |
| 10. |
Sam Hansen |
Martin Luther |
86 |
78 |
79 |
243 (+27) |
* Jake Sweeney won on the 4th playoff hole to earn medalist honors.