MEET RESULTS | SCORECARDS

JANESVILLE, Wis. -- Brian Deuel (SO, Vadnais Heights, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) finished with a two-day total of 150, including a second-round 73, to lead the Augsburg College men's golf team to a fifth-place finish at the 17-team Culver's Edgewood College Invitational, held Friday and Saturday at the Glen Erin Golf Club.

After opening with a first-round 305 on Friday, the Auggies shot 311 on Saturday to finish fifth with a 616 total. Wisconsin-Stout won the 15-school, 17-team meet with a two-day total of 602.

"The team had a good start to the season." said head coach Ted Vickerman. "I thought before the season started that if we could shoot 312 or better each day in a tournament, we would have a good season. We shot 305 and 311. The best thing about this tournament is that everyone on the team believes we could have done better.

"Overall, I am very happy with a top-five finish in our first tournament. We played good enough the first day to put us in position to win and we went out and did our best on the second day. In order to win in golf, you must keep putting yourself in position and eventually you will break through and win."

After an opening-round 77, Deuel finished with a second-round 73, tied for the fifth-lowest round of the day, to finish in a tie for ninth place in the 96-player event. The 150 total is Deuel's collegiate low for a 36-hole event, and his second-round 73 is his collegiate-low 18-hole score.

"Brian Deuel had a great attitude all weekend and finished in the top 10," Vickerman said. "Brian has one of the best short games on the team and I saw him make some unbelievable up-and-downs. His golf game has really improved from last year and he is going to have a great season."

Competing in his first collegiate tournament, Zach Johnson (FY, Sartell, Minn.) finished with a two-day total of 155 (76-79), tying for 23rd. Also in his first college meet, Christopher Tobkin (FY, Willmar, Minn./New London-Spicer HS) shot a 158 total (77-81), tying for 30th.

"I was very happy to see Zach hang in there and post a round in the 70s," Vickerman said. "He is going to be a great player for us because he has a great mental game."

Jason Henning (JR, Coon Rapids, Minn.) shot 160 to finish 36th, while Joel Kociemba (JR, Andover, Minn./St. Francis HS) shot 162 to finish 48th. Competing as individuals, Tucker Williams (SO, Roseville, Minn.) shot 161 to tie for 44th and Matt Kowalski (FY, Marinette, Wis.) shot 162 to tie for 48th.

Augsburg hosts its annual Augsburg Fall Invitational next Saturday and Sunday (9/12-13) at the Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake, Minn.

Comments from Auggie golfers:
Brian Deuel -- "I started the front nine with a pretty boring 38, which is 3-over-par on the front. Then the back side came and I was determined to do better than I did in the first round. I bogeyed No. 11 and was feeling like I didn't have much left in the tank, but then I was on fire and made up-and-downs for par on my next four holes and remained at 4-over-par on the day. Then I got a nice bounce on the par-3 16th hole and made a birdie, which boosted my confidence since I birdied it both days. Then I stuck a wedge on the 17th hole to three feet and made my birdie putt to go to 1-under-par on that side and 3-over for my round. On the final hole, I had a chance to get on the par-5 in two, but decided to put a wedge in my hand since I was so confident with that club. I hit my third shot with my wedge to about 10 feet, but lipped out my birdie putt to finish with a birdie-birdie-par finish to my tournament. I finished with 77-73 for 150, which made me feel good because it was a good start to our season for me."

Zach Johnson -- “I told myself not to give up at all after a rough start. I had been in this situation many times and I hunckered down and continued to roll through my thought process. Never give up, no matter how bad you are playing, one shot can turn the whole round around."