M State finished third as a team, only six shots off the championship score at the NJCAA Division III National Golf Championship at Chautauqua Golf Club in Chautauqua, New York. The Spartans surged on the final day with their lowest score of the week, a 304, giving them a tournament total of 1241. Georgia Military College (1235) recorded a final day score of 301 to pass Sandhills CC (1236) of Pinehurst, North Carolina to win the event by one stroke.
“The Spartans really came to play today and it was a battle between three great teams,” reported Head Coach Jason Retzlaff of M State. “We might have caught both teams around the twelfth hole, but couldn’t quite keep the wave of momentum going through the entire round. Regardless, six shots off the title is a tremendous accomplishment and the guys played exceptional under pressure.”
Head Coach Jason Retzlaff, Hunter Moen, Blake Bloedorn, Austin Miller, Carter Justesen, Wyatt Blomseth, Jordan Kern, Assistant Coach Jeff Haukos
Three Spartan golfers earned All-American honors with Blake Bloedorn (75-78-74-76=303) placing fourth and earning first team honors, Hunter Moen (75-076-79-75=305) taking fifth place and also earning first team All-American status, and Wyatt Blomseth (85-77-77-76=315) taking fourteenth place, receiving honorable mention All-American recognition. With the All-American honor as a freshman, Blomseth has earned an automatic bid to the National Tournament next year. With first team All-American honors Moen becomes the first M State golfer to reach that status in consecutive years.
Carter Justesen (82-80-79-77=318) tied for twentieth individually and Austin Miller (90-84-86-88=348) finished tied for 67th place.
“A big thanks for our sophomores, Blake Bloedorn, Jordan Kern, Austin Miller and Hunter Moen,” said Retzlaff. “They are great players and very special young men. I am very thankful they attended M State and they leave a wonderful legacy on our program. Both Wyatt and Carter had great freshman seasons and they will be the backbone of our team next year.”
For the second day in a row the Spartans carded four rounds in the 70’s, all were 77 or lower. M State has now finished in the top three in three of the last four years (2016, 2017, 2019).
“Our fan support was such a big part of our experience this week,” concluded Retzlaff. “Including M State President Brimhall and her family we had 41 people from Minnesota and North Dakota travel to New York to cheer us on. That type of support from family and our college is truly appreciated.”
