Season Stats: MEN
2013-14 Men's Golf Schedule/Results
SEPTEMBER | ||||
| Sept. 5-6 | Siouxland Invite | Sioux Center, Iowa / Orange City, Iowa | T9 of 17 | |
| Sept. 17 | Doane Invite | Lincoln, Neb. | 3 of 13 | |
| Sept. 19 | GPAC Qualifier No. 1 - Green Valley GC | Sioux City, Iowa | T9 of 11 | |
OCTOBER | ||||
| Oct. 8 | Morningside Invite | Sioux City, Iowa | 3 of 7 | |
| Oct. 11-12 | Nebraska Intercollegiate Tournament | Norfolk, Neb. | 7 of 9 | |
| Oct. 14 | GPAC Qualifier No. 2 | Lincoln, Neb. | 9 of 11 GPAC standings | |
MARCH | ||||
| March 29 | Bethel Invite - Hesston Golf Park | Hesston, Kan. | Results | |
| March 30 | Bethel Invite - Sand Creek Station | Newton, Kan. | 14 of 19 | |
APRIL | ||||
| April 11 | Doane Invite - Wilderness Ridge GC | Lincoln, Neb. | Results | |
| April 12 | Doane Invite - College Heights GC | Crete, Neb. | 4 of 7 | |
| April 18 | Wild West Shootout - Wild Horse GC | Gothenburg, Neb. | T-6 of 17 | |
| April 21 | GPAC Qualifier No. 3 - Lochland Country Club | Hastings, Neb. | 8 of 11 GPAC standings | |
| April 24 | Mount Marty Invite - Fox Run GC | Yankton, S.D. | 10 of 12 | |
| April 26 | Bulldog-Tiger Ryder Cup - York Country Club | York, Neb. | Exhibition | |
| April 28 | GPAC Qualifier No. 4 - Fox Run GC | Yankton, S.D. | T8 of 11 GPAC standings | |
2013-14 Bulldog Men's Golf Roster
Name | Yr. | Hometown | Previous School | |||||
Brock Colclasure | So. | Central City, Neb. | Central City | |||||
Court Croghan | Fr. | Seward, Neb. | Southeast CC | |||||
Sam DeFreece | Sr. | Overland Park, Kan. | Olathe South | |||||
Jared Knoepfel | Fr. | Fremont, Neb. | Fremont | |||||
Matt Lehenbauer | Fr. | Lake Ozark, Neb. | School of the Osage | |||||
Cody Lehmann | Sr. | Norfolk, Neb. | Lutheran High Northeast | |||||
Colton Marshall | Fr. | North Platte, Neb. | Hershey | |||||
Sam Mayhall | Jr. | Parker, Colo. | Lutheran High-Parker | |||||
Shawn Rodehorst | Jr. | Kearney, Neb. | Kearney Catholic | |||||
Sam Simonson | So. | Saint Libory, Neb. | Heartland Lutheran | |||||
Garrett Suchanek | So. | Grand Island, Neb. | Heartland Lutheran | |||||
Grant Worthington | Fr. | Peachtree City, Ga. | McIntosh | |||||
2013-2014 Coaching staff
Head Coach: Brett Muller
Assistant Coach: Corrie Johnson
Bulldog golf: 2013-14 season preview
2 SEP 2013
MEN
Head Coach: Brett Muller (third year)
2012-13 GPAC Finish: 10th (338-335-325-319–1,317)
Key Returners: Brock Colclasure (So.); Sam DeFreece (Sr.); Sam Mayhall (Jr.); Shawn Rodehorst (Jr.); Sam Simonson (So.); Garrett Suchanek (So.)
Key Newcomers: Court Croghan, Josh Hinrichs, Jared Knoepfel
2012 GPAC All-Conference: Shawn Rodehorst (8th – 82-78-72-70–302)
WOMEN
Head Coach: Brett Muller (third year)
2012-13 GPAC Finish: 11th (415-392-398-401–1,606)
Key Returners: Gretyl Bremmer (So.); Jenelle Hallaert (Jr.); Melissa McIntosh (Jr.); Allison Schieffer (Jr.)
Key Losses: Makenzie Deutschman, Chelsea Peck, Madison Phillips
Key Newcomer: Amy Ahlers
Outlook:
Coming off significant improvement this past spring, the Bulldog golf programs see plenty of reason for optimism heading into the 2013-14 campaign under third-year head coach Brett Muller. The men will lean upon a host of returners, led by all-conference performer Shawn Rodehorst, while the women hope for a boost from incoming Boone Central High School product Amy Ahlers.
Despite finishes near the bottom of the GPAC last season, Muller believes things are beginning to come together for both programs.
“Obviously we just want to improve every year and be more consistent,” Muller said. “I’ve really seen a change in culture with Bulldog golf since I’ve been here. People are a lot more committed to the program and want to put in the extra time and get better. We just need to give 110 percent every practice and start taking strides forward.”
The obvious commitment of Rodehorst, a junior from Kearney, Neb., has set the standard for Concordia golf, literally. The business administration major broke school records last season for lowest season average (75.15 – 13 rounds), lowest two-round score at a single meet (71-73–144; Blue River Invite) and best GPAC qualifier finish (eighth), while becoming the first Bulldog to ever win the Blue River Invite.
With a laser-like mental focus and a golf game still on the rise, Rodehorst appears to be a contender for GPAC medalist honors as he begins the second half of his Concordia career.
“I don’t know if it’s an expectation (to win a GPAC individual title), but it’s something that I’d like to do,” Rodehorst said after the spring. “I’m not going to put any pressure on myself to do it. Just because I played well this spring doesn’t mean anything for the future. Yeah it gives you confidence and momentum, but at the same time it’s still just one shot a time and playing the best you can. After each round I do that, I’ll be happy no matter what.”
Backing Rodehorst is a group that entered last season an inexperienced bunch. Senior Sam DeFreece (84.09 average) and sophomore Sam Simonson (84.69) have the inside track on the second and third slots in the varsity lineup after competing in a combined 24 meets in 2012-13. DeFreece placed 32nd on the GPAC leaderboard, while Simonson tied for 34th.
The rest of the returning top six includes sophomore Brock Colclasure (87.33), junior Sam Mayhall (86.33) and sophomore Garrett Suchanek (87.00). They will be pushed by incoming freshmen such as Court Croghan (Seward, Neb.), Josh Hinrichs (Hastings, Neb.) and Jared Knoepfel (Fremont, Neb.).
“We have the top six on the men’s side coming back and then add some newcomers into that so I expect practices to be very competitive to see who the top five are,” Muller said. “The biggest thing I’m looking for going into the fall season is consistency and we need those guys to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.”
Clearly the Bulldog men are further along than they were at this point a year ago. With one of the conference’s elite golfers to go with a deeper, more experienced group, expectations will be higher this time around.
“I’m pretty excited, pretty optimistic,” Muller said. “Our goal is definitely to finish in the top half of our conference. It’s about getting off to a good start. Last year we kind of dug ourselves too big of a hole at the first two qualifiers with being so young and having a couple tough rounds at the qualifiers, but we played much better second semester. We’ve just got to come out and be ready to play right away.”
The Bulldog women were hit much harder in the offseason with the graduation of Makenzie Deutschman, Chelsea Peck and Madison Phillips. Both Deutschman and Peck garnered all-conference recognition in 2011-12 and were mainstays at the top of the varsity lineup. Says Muller, “All three seniors will definitely be missed.”
In other words, it’s time for juniors Jenelle Hallaert (104.91), Melissa McIntosh (100.58) and Allison Schieffer (109.5) to step up their games. Both Hallaert and McIntosh improved their averages during the second semester and appear primed for better in 2013-14.
“Janelle and Melissa have played every varsity match since they’ve been here so I’m excited to see the strides they’ve made,” Muller said. “Then Ali really came on last year. We also have (sophomore) Gretyl Bremmer, who will be in her second season with us. She played in one match last year and really improved. We have a good core of girls here.”
However, it could be freshman Amy Ahlers, a Boone Central High School product, who emerges as the team’s top golfer on the women’s side. She comes to Concordia with impressive high school credentials.
“I’m excited to see what she can do for us,” Muller said. “She actually medaled all four years of her high school career at state. She’s a three-time team champion. She had a great summer. She tied for third in the Nebraska girl’s amateur tournament, shooting 76-77. She will definitely be someone we expect to come in right away and make a push for all-conference.”
Muller thinks Ahlers, an Albion, Neb., native, can consistently card scores of 80 or lower and hopes that the rest of the varsity lineup falls in line not too far behind.
“Chelsea and Makenzie will be hard to replace,” Muller said. “They were just pretty steady, solid golfers. We just need some other girls to step up. Obviously having Amy probably golfing in our one spot will help. If we can get her around 80 or better that will be great and just have the others be consistent.”
The Rodehorst-led Bulldog men will get the season started at the Siouxland Invite, which begins Thursday and ends on Friday. The women begin Friday at the Morningside Invite.
Young Bulldogs highlight opening week for men's golf
6 SEP 2014
Concordia head coach Brett Muller inserted three freshmen into his varsity men’s golf lineup and got encouraging results at the two-day Siouxland Invite. As a team, the Bulldogs shot a 312-322–634 to place in tie for ninth out of 17 squads at the Thursday-Friday meet.
The 312 on Thursday marked the best one round score for Bulldog men’s golf in the past two years.
“We’re excited about that,” Muller said. “We also know we have room for improvement. We’re not where we want to be yet.”
Freshman Josh Hinrichs of Hastings, Neb., gave returning all-conference performer Shawn Rodehorst a strong push for the team’s lowest individual score at the meet. Hinrichs actually topped the Bulldogs with a four-over-par 76 on day one, coming in one shot ahead of Rodehorst.
“It was a great individual performance by Josh Hinrichs in his first collegiate meet,” Muller said.
Concordia’s junior star from Kearney, Neb., then delivered a 76 on Friday for a two-day 77-76–153 to tie for 17th among 83 golfers on the individual leaderboard. Hinrichs followed not far behind by carding a 76-83–159, placing him in a tie for 41st.
Rodehorst, who set a school record last season for lowest season average, managed a 77 on day one despite a pair of double bogeys to begin his round and at the start of the back nine.
“He was battling a little bit of a hip injury,” Muller said. “It’s not an excuse he would use though and he would never tell you that it’s bothering him. He’s a competitor and he expects to pick right up where he left off in the spring.”
Jared Knoepfel (T51 – 80-82–162) and Court Croghan (T64 – 85-81–166) joined Hinrichs as the two other freshmen in the varsity lineup. None of the three shot any higher than an 85 on either of the day’s rounds, showing the depth of a program that returned its top six from a year ago.
“With three freshmen playing in our top five and having so many guys back from last year, practices have been very competitive,” Muller said. “We don’t normally take 10 guys to many tournaments, but we wanted to get all of them tournament exposure and see how things go.”
In other words, the promising youngsters will have to continue to play well to remain in the varsity lineup. Muller sees a closely-grouped field from players 3 through 8.
Both sophomore Sam Simonson (85-79–164) and senior Sam DeFreece (89-80–169) put together solid performances at the Siouxland Invite as part of the junior varsity team. They both improved their scores significantly on day two of the event.
Muller hopes the Siouxland Invite provides a springboard for a strong start to conference qualifier play, which will begin on Sept. 19.
“Having three guys in the 70s and our fourth in the 80s is what we’re looking for,” Muller said. “That’s what we need every time out. Ideally, we’ll get four into the 70s.”
Round one was played in Orange City, Iowa, before shifting to Sioux Center, Iowa, for day two. Muller described the conditions as much tougher on Friday, when temperatures climbed above 90 degrees and winds gusted at 15-25 miles per hour.
The Bulldog men are off until Sept. 17 when they tee off at the Doane Invite in Lincoln, Neb.
Bulldog varsity claims third place at Doane Invite
17 SEP 2013
LINCOLN, Neb. – Junior Shawn Rodehorst and freshman Josh Hinrichs both carded 78’s as Concordia men’s golf placed third among the field of 12 teams at Tuesday’s Doane Invite. As a team, the Bulldogs shot a 323 on the familiar course at Wilderness Ridge in Lincoln, Neb.
“Wilderness Ridge is one of the toughest courses we play all year,” Concordia head coach Brett Muller said. “Then add the elements we had today. Today the course played as long as it possibly could. With the pre-round showers the guys got little or no roll in the fairway and rough. Shawn, Josh and Garrett (Suchanek) all broke 80 and each picked up an individual medal. I’m real pleased with where our second group finished score-wise.”
Rodehorst and Hinrichs tied for fourth on the individual leaderboard that included 65 golfers. Sophomore Sam Simonson (T18 – 83), freshman Jared Knoepfel (T22 – 84) and sophomore Brock Colclasure (T47 – 90) made up the rest of the varsity lineup on Tuesday.
Through three rounds this season, Rodehorst has posted scores of 77, 76 and 78 for a 77.0 average. Hinrichs, a native of Hastings, Neb., is second on the team to Rodehorst with an average of 79.0 after carding scores of 76, 83 and 78.
Muller also brought a ‘B’ team to the Doane Invite. The group of Suchanek (T7 – 79), Court Croghan (T18 – 83), Sam DeFreece (T25 – 85), Sam Mayhall (T29 – 86) and Paul Rempfer (57th – 90) combined on a team score of 333 and placed fifth.
The Bulldog ‘B’ team finished only 10 strokes off the pace set by the ‘A’ team, showing Concordia’s depth up and down the roster. Muller expects the competition for varsity spots to continue to be fierce.
Tuesday’s meet served as a tune up for the most important competition to date, which will take place Thursday when the Bulldogs enter conference qualifier action. GPAC Qualifier No. 1 will be held in Sioux City, Iowa. Muller looks for his team to move up the conference standings after finishing 10th last season.
Hinrichs cards 75 as Bulldogs shoot 317
19 SEP 2013
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Freshman Josh Hinrichs appears primed to rival junior Shawn Rodehorst for the title of Concordia’s top golfer this season. On Thursday Hinrichs’ three-over-par 75 ranked best among the Bulldogs’ quintet at GPAC Qualifier No. 1 at Green Valley Golf Course in Sioux City, Iowa. Rodehorst backed Hinrichs with a 78 to lead Concordia to a team score of 317, tying it for ninth place on the day.
The 317 team score comes in lower than any of the Bulldogs’ four rounds at last season’s GPAC qualifiers when Muller’s squad finished 10th in the conference. Rodehorst was the only Bulldog to place in the top 30 on the individual leaderboard in 2012-13. After one qualifier meet this season, Concordia has both Hinrichs (T-10th) and Rodehorst (T-24th) listed among the top 25 individuals.
The rest of the Bulldogs’ lineup on Thursday included sophomore Sam Simonson (T36 – 81), freshman Jared Knoepfel (T47 – 83) and sophomore Garrett Suchanek (53rd – 87). Suchanek moved up into Concordia’s group of five by shooting a 79 at the Doane Invite on Tuesday in Lincoln, Neb.
Rodehorst and Hinrichs are neck and neck for the top season average on the team. Rodehorst, a Kearney, Neb., native holds a 77.25 average after the first four rounds of the fall. Hinrichs lowered his season average to 78.0 after Thursday’s stellar round. Rodehorst broke the school single-season record last year by averaging 75.15 in 13 rounds.
Simonson, a native of Saint Libory, Neb., posted a career best score at a qualifier meet. Last year he finished in a tie for 34th place with scores of 87, 89, 88 and 84 at the four qualifier meets.
The second of four conference qualifier events (and final one of the fall) will be held Oct. 14 at Wilderness Ridge Golf Course in Lincoln, Neb. Two more GPAC qualifiers will take place during the spring season.
Midland, which shot a 299 on Thursday, holds a two-stroke advantage over Nebraska Wesleyan and Northwestern at the top of the GPAC standings.
The 65 golfers who navigated Green Valley experienced cool conditions and periods of rain on Thursday.
Bulldog men’s golf will now go 19 days before their next meet. Concordia will take part in the Morningside Invite on Oct. 8 when it returns to Sioux City.
Bulldogs place third at Morningside Invite
8 OCT 2013
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Windy conditions made play difficult for the field of more than 80 golfers at Tuesday’s Morningside Fall Invitational at Whispering Creek Golf Club in Sioux City, Iowa. Despite the strong wind gusts, junior standout Shawn Rodehorst shot a team best five-over-par 76 to lead Concordia to a third-place finish with a team score of 333.
“It was a very windy and blustery day on the course,” Bulldog head coach Brett Muller said. “It was not fun to play golf in. I’m proud of how our guys grinded it out.”
Rodehorst, a native of Kearney, Neb., continues to fight through hip problems that cause him to adjust his approach even from swing-to-swing. On Tuesday he looked closer to the form he showed this past spring when he turned in a sparkling 71.8 average over five rounds. His 76 put him in fifth place on the individual leaderboard.
“Shawn played very well again,” Muller said. “He shot a 76 and could have been much better. He was two-over-par going into the last two holes and played three-over-par on the last two. But he still played a very good round.”
Freshman Josh Hinrichs (Hastings, Neb.) followed Rodehorst with an 80, coming in just above his season average of 78.5 entering the Morningside Invite. Hinrichs tied for 12th place.
“Josh probably hit the ball as well as he has all year,” Muller said. “He had a couple bad breaks and struggled with his putting.”
The rest of the varsity lineup included freshmen Court Croghan (T42nd – 88) and Jared Knoepfel (T48th – 89) and sophomore Sam Simonson (T64th – 94).
Concordia also brought another group of five, which was led by sophomore Brock Colclasure’s 83 – good enough to place him in a tie for 21st. That score was four strokes off of the Central City, Neb., native’s season best of 79 in the season’s first meet. In addition, senior Sam DeFreece turned in a solid 86 for the second Bulldog quintet.
Rodehorst lowered his season average to a team low 77.0 after the first five fall rounds. Hinrichs comes in next with a 78.4 average.
The Bulldogs will get right back to action on Friday for day one of two of the Nebraska Intercollegiate Tournament in Norfolk, Neb. The field will include NCAA Division II nationally-ranked University of Nebraska-Kearney as part of a loaded field that includes several teams that Concordia does not typically compete against.
The fall season will end on Monday, Oct. 14 with GPAC Qualifier No. 2 in Lincoln, Neb.
A trio of Bulldogs lead the way on day one at Nebraska Intercollegiate
11 OCT 2013
NORFOLK, Neb. – Bulldog men’s golf continued a busy week of action with day one of the Nebraska Intercollegiate Meet on Friday. Concordia sits in seventh place out of the nine-team field after shooting a team score of 324. The meet will conclude with round two on Saturday when the action picks up at 9 a.m.
Freshman Josh Hinrichs and sophomore Sam Simonson tied at the top of the Concordia lineup as both carded 79s – placing them 18th on the individual leaderboard. The rest of the varsity quintet included freshman Jared Knoepfel (T-31st – 82), junior Shawn Rodehorst (T-39th – 84) and sophomore Brock Colclasure (T43rd – 86).
Bulldog junior Sam Mayhall, golfing as an individual at the tournament, also shot a 79 to equal Hinrichs and Simonson. In addition, sophomore Garrett Suchanek notched an 85 to complete Concordia’s representation at the meet.
The field of teams includes current frontrunners in the University of Nebraska-Kearney (1st – 289), Midland (2nd – 302) and Hastings (3rd – 307) among other Nebraska institutions.
Following Saturday’s round at the Nebraska Intercollegiate, the Bulldogs will conclude the fall season on Monday at GPAC Qualifier No. 2 in Lincoln, Neb. Concordia is tied for ninth in the conference after shooting a 317 at the first qualifier. Individually, Hinrichs sits in a tie for 10th with his first-round 75. Rodehorst shot a 78 to tie for 24th.
Hinrichs closes Nebraska Intercollegiate with ninth-place finish
12 OCT 2013
NORFOLK, Neb. – Freshman Josh Hinrichs enjoyed a round two better than all but four golfers on day two amongst a strong field at the Nebraska Intercollegiate Meet on Saturday. Hinrichs rose up to No. 9 on the individual leaderboard thanks to a career best performance on the final day of the event. As a team, head coach Brett Muller’s squad finished seventh out of nine teams with a two-day total of 324-322–646.
Hinrichs, a native of Hastings, Neb., shot a 74 on Saturday after carding a 79 the day before. He finished with a two-round 153 to top all Bulldog participants.
“Josh played a great round of golf today,” Muller said. “All day he was very solid from tee to green. For Josh to shot a two-day total of 153 was fantastic. Hopefully he can carry this momentum into Monday’s GPAC qualifier and end the fall season on a high note.”
Junior Shawn Rodehorst shot an 80 on Saturday – four strokes better than his total on Friday and finished tied for 30th. The Kearney, Neb., native totaled a 164 for the tournament.
Freshman Jared Knoepfel (T-34th – 82-83–165) and sophomores Sam Simonson (T-37th – 79-88–167) and Brock Colclasure (T-43rd – 86-85–171) made up the rest of the varsity lineup at the meet.
Junior Sam Mayhall (T-34th – 79-86–165) and sophomore Garrett Suchanek (T-41st – 85-85–170) represented Concordia as individuals as the Nebraska Intercollegiate Meet.
Bulldog golf will conclude the fall season with Monday’s GPAC Qualifier No. 2 at Firethorn Golf Club in Lincoln, Neb. Concordia is currently tied for ninth in the conference standings after shooting a team score of 317 at the first qualifier. Hinrichs is the Bulldogs’ highest ranking individual. He carded a 75 at GPAC Qualifier No. 1, tying himself for 10th.
“Going into Monday we have an opportunity to climb in the standings,” Muller said. “Firethorn is a very tough golf course. If we can shoot 315 or better we will be in good shape.”
Knoepfel vaults up GPAC leaderboard as fall aseason ends
14 OCT 2013
SEWARD, Neb. – Bulldog freshman Jared Knoepfel battled miserable conditions on Monday and still managed to turn in a 78 at GPAC Qualifier No. 2 held at Firethorn Country Club in Lincoln, Neb. As a team, Concordia shot a 345 to place ninth among the 11 GPAC squads on the day. After two rounds of qualifiers, the Bulldogs are ninth with their total of 317-345–662.
“I try to prepare the team for every situation they will experience in a tournament, however today’s conditions couldn’t be simulated,” Concordia head coach Brett Muller said. “We played through the rain, the wind and the cold today. Today was the toughest conditions these guys of experienced in their golfing careers.”
Knoepfel soared all the way into a tie for 15th on the GPAC leaderboard through 36 holes of qualifier action. His 78 on Monday tied for fifth on the day and came on the heels of a solid 83 at GPAC Qualifier No. 1 on Sept. 19.
Even in ideal conditions, Knoepfel’s Monday round would have looked impressive.
“Jared played an absolutely amazing round of golf today,” Muller said. “He started the day five over par after his first four holes, then played his last 14 holes at two over par. Jared has been working on not letting a bad hole effect more than just one hole. He proved how important that is today. A 78 at Firethorn on any day is a good score. To do it today in today’s conditions is fantastic.”
Junior Shawn Rodehorst, a Kearney, Neb., native, came in next with an 86 at GPAC Qualifier No. 2. Rodehorst, who earned all-conference honors last season, sits in 27th with his two-round 78-86–164. Last season Rodehorst finished eighth in the GPAC.
Freshman Josh Hinrichs struggled with an uncharacteristically high 93 on Monday’s round. He dropped into a tie for 34th with his 75-93–168.
Sophomore Sam Simonson is the only other Bulldog who has golfed in both qualifying meets. He shot a 99 on Monday after shooting an 81 in the first qualifier. He is tied for 43rd.
Senior Sam DeFreece, who did not participate in GPAC Qualifier No. 1, carded the team’s third best score on Monday with an 88. That total tied him for 36th on the day.
The Bulldogs will return to action in the spring with two more GPAC qualifiers. The rest of the spring schedule is to be announced.
Golf programs set to move home course to Highlands
7 FEB 2014
SEWARD, Neb. – Director of Athletics Devin Smith and third-year head golf coach Brett Muller are excited to announce that the Concordia University golf programs have found a new home. Beginning this spring, Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln will serve as the home course for both the men’s and women’s Bulldog golf teams.
Highlands, located on 5501 NW 12th Street – about a 25-minute drive from the Concordia campus, provides many advantages. The course includes a complete 18 holes and offers an impressive practice facility. The new home will also allow Concordia to be part of the rotation to host future GPAC qualifier meets.
“This venue change assists us with fostering a first class student-athlete experience for our Bulldog golf teams,” Smith said. “It also positions our programs for future competitive greatness.”
Added Muller, “Our program is extremely excited about this development and thankful for the partnership with Highlands Golf Course. This move takes our program to another level and gives us a top-notch course for practice. We’re also very excited to now be part of the GPAC qualifier rotation and for the opportunity to host meets. In addition, I’m confident that the use of Highlands will be a boost to recruiting.”
Concordia has previously used Seward Country Club, a nine-hole course, for practice purposes. Seward Country Club also played host to portions of the Blue River Invite in past seasons.
More details on Highlands Golf Course
Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln, Nebraska, is an 18-hole, championship, public golf course designed in 1993 by Jeff Brauer. The course has matured beautifully and offers sweeping, rolling terrain that makes the course a pleasure to play. Varying wind conditions can offer a great challenge to the golfers.
The course stretches out to over 7,000 yards from the gold markers with a total of four different tees to choose from (White; 5,280 yrds, Blue; 6,022 yrds, Black; 6,523 yrds). The links style course is designed to offer a fair but challenging test for all playing abilities. The course is always in good playing condition. Highlands also has one of the best practice facilities in the Midwest and a pro shop that is well stocked with name brand golf equipment and apparel.
Golf begins spring season Saturday at Bethel Invite
28 MAR 2014
SEWARD, Neb. – Head coach Brett Muller’s men’s golf squad resumes the 2013-14 season this weekend at the Bethel College Invite. The meet will play out over two days with Saturday’s round taking place at Hesston Golf Park in Hesston, Kan., before action shifts to Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kan., on Sunday. Shotgun starts both days will see the Bulldogs begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday.
The women’s team will open the spring season on Tuesday, April 8 at the Midland Invite held at the Fremont Golf Club.
Following two fall GPAC qualifiers, the Concordia men rest in ninth place (317-345–662) while the women are fifth (366-374–740). The men are 11 strokes better than they were this time a year ago. The women have made a 67-stroke improvement over their standing at the end of the 2012 fall season.
Junior Shawn Rodehorst, who battled a nagging hip injury in the fall, led the Concordia men with a fall average of 79.38 in eight rounds. The native of Kearney, Neb., is more than capable of lowering his average. As a sophomore Rodehorst broke the school record with a mean score of 75.15. The 2012-13 all-conference performer currently sits 27th in the GPAC (78-86–164) after two qualifiers.
Freshman Jared Knoepfel put together a solid fall season and is the highest rated Bulldog in the GPAC standings. Knoepfel carries a GPAC qualifier score of 83-78–161 (tied for 15th) into the spring. Knoepfel averaged 82.63 over eight fall rounds.
Muller’s men’s squad lost freshman Josh Hinrichs (79.75) who left at semester, but Concordia has a deep team equipped to handle the departure. Freshman Court Croghan (84.25, four rounds), sophomore Brock Colclasure (84.63, six rounds), junior Sam Mayhall (85.0, six rounds), senior Sam DeFreece (85.60, five rounds), sophomore Sam Simonson (86.0, eight rounds) and sophomore Garrett Suchanek (86.14, seven rounds) give Muller plenty of options when filling out his varsity lineup.
The Bulldog women have received a huge boost this season from the dynamic freshman duo of Amy Ahlers (85.29, seven rounds) and Kayla Krueger (90.86, seven rounds). Ahlers, a native of Albion, Neb., stands a great shot to earn all-conference honors. She enters the fall in a tie for eighth place on the GPAC leaderboard after shooting 89-80–169 at the first two qualifiers.
Krueger is within striking distance of a top 10 GPAC placement required for all-conference recognition. The Aberdeen, S.D., native is in 17th place with her 92-84–176. Her 84 at GPAC Qualifier No. 2 stands as her season best.
The rest of the varsity lineup will be made up of a combination of juniors Melissa McIntosh (97.29, seven rounds), Allison Schieffer (106.57, seven rounds) and Jenelle Hallaert (119.0, two rounds) and sophomore Kristen Remm (102.60, five rounds).
In preparation for the spring, the Bulldogs have practiced on their new home turf – Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln. For more information on the course, click HERE.
To view the schedule for the spring golf season, clickHERE.
Rodehorst, Knoepfel shoot 80s on day 1 of Bethel Invite
29 MAR 2014
HESSTON, Kan. – The spring season opened up on Saturday afternoon for the Concordia University men’s golf team, which shot a 325 and sits 16th out of 19 squads after day one of two at the Bethel College Invite. The meet will resume on Sunday at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kan.
All five Concordia competitors shot 86 or lower, but head coach Brett Muller believes his team will get better results on Sunday.
“We are all disappointed with our scores from today,” Muller said. “For the most part I thought we hit the ball decent, we just didn’t score well. As a team we didn’t putt well. We know what we will be working on in practice next week.
“Tomorrow we play a longer and tougher golf course. With the predicted high winds, the scores we shot will move us up in the standings.”
Junior Shawn Rodehorst, who averaged 79.38 over eight fall rounds, tied freshman Jared Knoepfel for a team low by shooting an 80 on Saturday. That total puts the pair in a tie for 59th among the field of just over 100 golfers at the event.
Sophomore Sam Simonson (81), senior Sam DeFreece (84) and sophomore Garrett Suchanek (86) also navigated the Hesston Golf Park par-71 course.
The large field of Bethel Invite teams includes GPAC members Dakota Wesleyan (fifth place), Doane (sixth place), Hastings (sixth place) and Briar Cliff (eighth place).
The Bulldogs will hit the links at 9 a.m. from Sand Creek as part of a shotgun start on Sunday.
Windy conditions lead to high scores at Bethel Invite
30 MAR 2014
NEWTON, Kan. – On a blustery day two of the Bethel College Invite, the Concordia University men’s golf team regressed by 42 strokes compared to its day 1 total. However, it was still good enough for the Bulldogs to move up two places to 14th out of the 19 teams at the 36-hole event. The tournament was the first of the spring season for Concordia, which carded a 325-367–692.
Individually, junior standout Shawn Rodehorst came up with the Bulldogs’ highest finish. He tied for 46th among the 105 golfers with his two-day 80-89–169. Rodehorst’s 89 was symptomatic of the brutal conditions, including wind gusts of over 40 miles per hour, that prevented all but three golfers to shoot below 80 on Sunday.
Three other Bulldogs competed on both days of the Bethel Invite. Freshman Jared Knoepfel (T-53rd, 80-91–171) and sophomores Sam Simonson (T-70th, 81-95–176) and Garrett Suchanek (T-73rd, 86-92–178) filled out the lineup for head coach Brett Muller.
A total of five GPAC schools were represented at the Bethel Invite.
The Concordia men will return to action April 11-12 when the Doane Invite is held. The first round will take place at Wilderness Ridge Golf Club in Lincoln before shifting to College Heights Golf Course in Crete the following day.
Three Bulldogs shoot in the 70s on day one of Doane Invite
11 APR 2014
LINCOLN, Neb. – Virtually ideal conditions greeted the field on day one of the Doane Invite held at Wilderness Ridge Golf Course in Lincoln, Neb., on Friday. Concordia junior Shawn Rodehorst led the way for the Bulldogs by carding a 76 (par 71, 6,518 yards), tying a season low. As a squad, Rodehorst and the ‘A’ team shot a collective 317 (fourth place out of seven).
“It was nice to see three shoot in the 70s and have Shawn back to a glimpse of what he’s capable of,” head coach Brett Muller said. “He shot a lower score on his back nine and Jared (Knoepfel) continued to have a nice freshman campaign. He’s been a solid 2 guy.”
Knoepfel followed Rodehorst with a 77. Like Rodehorst, Knoepfel improved on the back nine, shooting a 37 after carding a 40 on the front nine. Both Rodehorst (T-8th) and Knoepfel (10th) sit in the top 10 after Friday’s round.
The rest of the first Bulldog grouping was rounded out by senior Sam DeFreece (79), sophomore Sam Simonson (85) and freshman Court Croghan (87). DeFreece is tied for 12th on the individual leaderboard.
The Bulldog ‘B’ team included sophomore Garrett Suchanek (81), freshman Matt Lehenbauer (89), junior Sam Mayhall (91), freshman Grant Worthington (94) and senior Cody Lehmann (97). The top four on the B group combined for a score of 355.
“Garrett hit the ball well today,” Muller said. “He was consistent. He didn’t putt as well as he would have liked but it’s hard to complain with an 81 at Wilderness Ridge.”
Rodehorst, a native of Kearney, Neb., continues to make adjustments due to pain in his hip. Says Muller of Rodehorst, “he’s altered his swing and he’s trying to play with a little pain. He’s not carry a driver because of it.”
The Doane Invite continues on Saturday with 18 more holes. The final round will be contested at College Heights Golf Course in Crete, Neb. As Muller notes, College Heights typically lends to lower scores than Wilderness Ridge, known as one of the more challenging courses in the area.
Men's golf finishes strong at Doane Invite
12 APR 2014
CRETE, Neb. – Five Concordia University men’s golfers shot scores in the 70s on the second and final day of the Doane Spring Invite. Freshman Court Croghan carded a team low 75 in round two held at College Heights Golf Course, the home course of the Tigers. As a squad, Concordia’s ‘A’ team combined on a 355-328–683 on the weekend to place fourth among the seven teams.
“Overall I was pleased with the way the guys played today,” head coach Brett Muller said. “College Heights is a much shorter and normally an easier course to score on, however, the greens were aerified this week which made it much tougher to make putts.
“It was good to have five guys in the 70s today. Sam Mayhall played outstanding today, improving by 15 strokes. Shawn (Rodehorst) played better again today.”
Rodehorst’s two-day total of 76-76–152 placed him in a tie for 10th on the individual leaderboard. Freshman Jared Knoepfel and sophomore Garrett Suchanek came in next for the Bulldogs, each tying for 17th with 158 over two rounds. Suchanek enjoyed a big weekend as part of the Concordia ‘B’ team at the meet.
Joining Croghan and Rodehorst in the 70s on Saturday were Mayhall (76), sophomore Sam Simonson (76) and Suchanek (77).
Mayhall’s 15-stroke improvement from Friday to Saturday marked the biggest turnaround of any golfer in the field.
The Bulldog men will compete one more time before GPAC Qualifier No. 3 on April 21. Next up is the Wild West Shootout at Wild Horse Golf Course in Gothenburg, Neb., on Friday, April 18.
Bulldogs place sixth, Rodehorst second at WIld West Shootout
18 APR 2014
GOTHENBURG, Neb. – In its last tune up before the first GPAC qualifier of the spring season, the Concordia University men’s golf squad placed in a tie for sixth among the field of 17 teams at the Wild West Shootout in Gothenburg, Neb., on Friday. Despite consistent winds around 30 miles per hour, the Bulldogs shot a solid 321 as a team and junior Shawn Rodehorst placed second individually with a two-over-par 74.
“It was a pretty good day overall,” head coach Brett Muller said. “We beat some GPAC teams that are ahead of us in the standings so hopefully we’ll use that as momentum going into Monday’s GPAC qualifier.”
Rodehorst’s 74 marked a season low over his combined 13 rounds over the fall and spring. The native of Kearney, Neb., recorded three birdies and consistently kept himself out of trouble by using a safe approach in the face of the gusty conditions at Wild Horse Golf Course. He finished just one stroke off of medalist honors.
“Shawn did a great job putting and put himself in good position off the tee,” Muller said. “He was hitting his one iron off the tee and hitting it low and keeping it on the fairways.”
Freshman Court Croghan, who was not part of the five-member varsity lineup on Friday, competed as an individual and shot an 80. That performance came on the heels of his 75 on day two of the Doane Invite on April 12 and earned him a spot in the lineup for the upcoming GPAC qualifier.
The other four Bulldogs in action on Friday were freshman Jared Knoepfel (81), senior Sam DeFreece (83) and sophomores Sam Simonson (83) and Garrett Suchanek (86).
Monday’s GPAC Qualifier No. 3 will be held at Lochland Country Club in Hastings, Neb. The Bulldogs are set to tee off at 12:40 p.m. Concordia currently sits in ninth place in the conference standings after carding a 317-345–662 over the first two qualifiers, which took place in the fall. On the individual leaderboard Knoepfel is tied for 15th (83-78–161) and Rodehorst is 27th (78-86–164).
Men's golf shoots 326, moves up one spot in GPAC standings
21 APR 2014
FREMONT, Neb. – After shooting a solid 321 in a promising performance three days earlier, the Concordia University men’s golf team regressed by five strokes at GPAC Qualifier No. 3 held at Lochland Country Club in Hastings, Neb., on Monday. With a team score of 326 (+38), the Bulldogs placed eighth on the day, beating out Dordt, Briar Cliff and Mount Marty.
Through three qualifiers (two were held in the fall), Concordia has carded a total of 317-345-326–988, placing it eighth with one GPAC round yet to be completed.
“It was definitely a step back from Friday,” third-year head coach Brett Muller said. “We’re trying to figure out how we shot worse with better conditions and on an easier course.”
Individually, junior Shawn Rodehorst shot a 77 for his best qualifier score of the season. On the heels of a 78 in GPAC No. 1 and an 86 in GPAC No. 2, Rodehorst moved himself into a tie for 20th on the leaderboard. He sat 27th entering Monday’s round.
“Shawn played pretty well,” Muller said. “He shot a 37 on his back nine and actually bogeyed the last hole. He a great job coming back after shooting a little higher than he wanted on the first nine.”
Freshman Court Croghan followed up his 80 three days ago at the Wild West Invite with an 82 on Monday. Like Rodehorst, Croghan finished strong on the day in what was his first career GPAC qualifier round.
“Court started a little rough with a 44 on the front nine and then played about as well as we’ve seen all season on the back nine,” Muller said.
Freshman Jared Knoepfel posted an 82 on Monday, giving him a three round score of 83-78-82–243. Knoepfel is currently tied for 22nd in the GPAC, two strokes behind Rodehorst for the team lead.
Sophomore Sam Simonson (85) and senior Sam DeFreece (87) filled out the remainder of the varsity lineup on Monday. Simonson has carded a three-round qualifier total of 81-99-85–265 (36th place). DeFreece, who did not compete at GPAC Qualifier No. 1, shot an 88 at the second qualifier.
At the top of the conference, Nebraska Wesleyan (301-325-296–922) holds a six-stroke lead over Northwestern (301-317-310–928).
The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday for the Mount Marty Invite at Fox Run Golf Course in Yankton, S.D. The final GPAC qualifier will take place Monday, April 28 at the same course in Yankton. It will be the final meet of the 2013-14 season for Concordia men’s golf.
Men's golf places 10th at Mount Marty Invite
24 APR 2014
YANKTON, S.D. – In what was essentially a preview meet for Monday’s GPAC Qualifier No. 4 at the same course, the Concordia University men’s golf squad shot a 325 to place 10th among 12 teams – all from GPAC schools – at the Mount Marty Invite. Junior Shawn Rodehorst again led the way individually, carding a four-over-par 76 to place in tie for 12th on Thursday at Fox Run Golf Course.
Senior Sam DeFreece (80 – T32) and freshman Jared Knoepfel (81 – T41) placed second and third, respectively, among Bulldogs. The drop off came after the No. 3 spot as sophomore Sam Simonson (88 – 60th) and freshman Court Croghan (91 – T62) rounded out the rest of the lineup.
Both Rodehorst and Knoepfel faded a bit down the stretch after strong starts.
“Shawn was probably the lone bright spot,” head coach Brett Muller said. “He turned at even par and ended up bogeying his last four holes. Jared was +2 after 12 holes and struggled to finish. Both were disappointed with how their days ended.”
With the 76, Rodehorst finished eight strokes off tournament medalist Ryan Kiewiet of Northwestern. Kiewiet shot a 68 for the first-place Red Raiders.
Rodehorst was the only Bulldog who entered the day with previous experience at Fox Run. Muller hopes his team will rebound in four days when it returns.
“The good thing is that GPAC No. 4 is ahead. I hope our guys take some things from today and do better on Monday,” Muller said.
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday for the Bulldog-Tiger Ryder Cup at York Country Club in York, Neb. The meet will not officially factor into season results. Concordia completes the season on Monday at GPAC Qualifier No. 4, which will also take place at Fox Run Golf Course. Muller’s squad currently sits eighth in the GPAC with a three-round total of 317-345-326–988.
Suchanek closes season with career low, Bulldogs finish eighth in GPAC
28 APR 2014
YANKTON, S.D. – Despite being met with rain, wind and temperatures in the 40s throughout much of the day, the Concordia University men’s golf team managed to duplicate their score from four days earlier at the same course. Competing in their final meet of the season, the Bulldogs carded a 325 to tie for eighth at Monday’s GPAC Qualifier No. 4
Overall, Concordia finished in a tie for eighth in the GPAC with its cumulative 2013-14 qualifier total of 317-345-326-325–1,313. The Bulldogs were four strokes better and two places better than the previous season.
“It was a step in the right direction,” head coach Brett Muller said of the season as a whole. “We had some speed bumps and ups and downs but that’s what you would expect with a lot of new faces.”
Sophomore Garrett Suchanek came through with a career best five-over-par 77 on Monday to lead Concordia. Suchanek (average of 84.77 in 13 rounds this season) shaved 10 strokes off his only other qualifier outing this season – back at GPAC No. 1. Suchanek did so despite having to endure a delay with a +2 score heading into his final four holes.
“The conditions were very similar to GPAC No. 2 – cold, wet and windy and even a little hail,” Muller said. “We had about an hour and 15 minute lightning delay.
“Garrett ended up bogeying three of his last four holes or he would have had a really impressive score. The delay hurt him.”
Junior Shawn Rodehorst again finishes as the top Bulldog on the overall leaderboard. Rodehorst placed 21st in the GPAC with his four-round total of 78-86-77-78–319. Having battled a hip injury throughout this season, the Kearney, Neb., native’s scored went up 17 strokes compared to his all-conference sophomore season.
Freshmen Court Croghan and Jared Knoepfel both turned in 85s on Monday. Senior Sam DeFreece rounded out the lineup with a 95. After Rodehorst, Knoepfel was the next highest Bulldog finisher in the GPAC standings, placing 28th with a total of 83-78-82-85–328. Knoepfel and Rodehorst were the only Bulldogs to compete in all four qualifiers in 2013-14.
Nebraska Wesleyan, which entered the day with a six-stroke lead atop the GPAC, won the conference title with its total of 301-325-296-303–1,225. The Prairie Wolves’ Rory Doll (77-76-71-73–297) won individual medalist honors after shooting a 73 on Friday.
With DeFreece being the only senior on this year’s roster, Concordia will expect to make another jump in the conference standings next season.
“With having most of our guys back and three good recruits coming in, we think we’ll have a solid team next year,” Muller said. “We expect to compete better. We have two recruits from Colorado coming that should push to be in our top five as freshmen. It should be practices very competitive.”
Rodehorst snares at-large selection on all-conference team
7 MAY 2014
SEWARD, Neb. – For the second-straight season, junior Shawn Rodehorst has been named to the 15-member GPAC men’s golf all-conference team. Having finished 21st in the final GPAC qualifier standings, Rodehorst was chosen by league coaches as an at-large selection for all-conference, as announced on Wednesday.
The native of Kearney, Neb., completed the 2013-14 season with a cumulative GPAC total of 78-86-77-78–319. In 16 rounds (12 meets) throughout the season, Rodehorst carded a team low average of 78.8. He recorded eight top-20 finishes, including four top-10s and three top-five placements. He posted his season low score of 74 at the Wild West Invite on April 18.
In 2012-13, Rodehorst placed eighth in the GPAC and broke the school record with a mean score of 75.15 over 13 rounds.
Rodehorst 2013-14 meet-by-meet
Siouxland Invite – 77-76=153 (+11)
Doane Fall Invite – 78 (+7)
GPAC Qualifier No. 1 – 78 (+6)
Morningside Invitational – 76 (+5)
Nebraska Intercollegiate Meet – 84-80=164 (+20)
GPAC Qualifier No. 2 – 86 (+15)
Bethel Spring Invitational – 80-89=169 (+27)
Doane Spring Invite – 76-76=152 (+9)
Wild West Invite – 74 (+2)
GPAC Qualifer No. 3 – 77 (+5)
Mount Marty Spring Invite – 76 (+4)
GPAC Qualifier No. 4 – 78 (+6)
Rodehorst collects Capital One Academic All-District, scholar-athlete recognition
15 MAY 2014
SEWARD, Neb. – Two-time GPAC all-conference golfer Shawn Rodehorst received two more honors on Thursday as he was named to the Capital One Academic All-District® 3 At-Large First Team of the College Division and tabbed a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete. A business administration major, Rodehorst has been named both all-district and a scholar-athlete for the first time in his career.
Academic all-district teams, “selected by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), have been released to recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. Capital One has been the entitlement rights holder to CoSIDA’s Academic All-America teams programs since 2011.”
The district 3 at-large team of the college division encompasses all schools in the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, S.D. and Wisconsin and includes 16 total honorees. That number is comprised of male athletes from golf, tennis, swimming, volleyball and wrestling.
With a cumulative GPA of 3.74, Rodehorst is one of 114 NAIA men's golf scholar-athletes. This season the native of Kearney, Neb., led the Bulldogs with an average score of 78.8 over 16 rounds. He recorded eight top-20 finishes in 12 meets.
As a First-team Academic All-District® honoree, Rodehorst advances to the Capital One Academic All-America® Team ballot, where first-, second- and third-team All-America honorees will be announced the first week of June.
View the entire list of men's golf scholar-athletes HERE.