MIAC roundup: Men’s golf receives NCAA at-large bid

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The men’s golf team received an at-large bid Monday to the 41-team NCAA Division III Championships.

St. Thomas will join MIAC opponents Gustavus Adolphus College and St. John’s University at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin, Fla. May 14-17.

The Tommies have a 75.4 player average from 23 rounds this past fall and spring and is led by All-American Alex Kapraun, who sports a 74.1 average.

Kapraun said he’s excited for the chance to compete nationally once again.  120307_IG_MiacRoundup12-300x125

“It’s definitely a great feeling to be going back to nationals,” Kapraun said. “We are thrilled with the opportunity to be back there for the second-straight year.”

This will be the Tommies’ second successive appearance in the NCAA tournament, placing 16th at last year’s championships. St. Thomas missed the cut by one stroke after completing two rounds.

“We can’t get ahead of ourselves. We learned last year we have to take it one day, one shot at a time,” Kapraun said, who finished 14th overall individually last year at the championships.

Women’s golfer to compete in NCAA championships

Junior Doyle O’Brien received one of six individual berths to compete in next week’s NCAA Division III women’s golf championships in Destin, Fla.

She averaged 79.1 per round in 2012-13, ranking second in the MIAC.

O’Brien said that although she is the only Tommie woman competing, she will be glad to have some members of the men’s team there.

“Of course we always go out there playing as a team,” O’Brien said. “We have individual scores, but we’re always trying to focus more on the team.”

The St. Olaf women’s golf team was the only one in the MIAC to qualify as a team, joining 20 other schools from across the country.

According to the NCAA website, the tournament consists of 72 holes of play in four days of competition.

Hoffman named MIAC tourney MVP

Junior shortstop Jenna Hoffman snagged the title of Most Valuable Player of the MIAC Playoffs Sunday, leading the Tommies to a 5-0 finish last weekend in Mankato.

Hoffman batted .667 in five games with seven RBI’s, four homers, four doubles and four singles.

Hoffman could not be reached for a comment.