St. Paul, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced the 2009-10 MIAC Men's Golf Awards today, May 10, 2010. Leading the award winners is MIAC Player of the Year Tony Krogen of Saint John's University.
Saint John's first-year Mark Giorgi was named the MIAC Freshman of the Year and Saint John's head coach Bob Alpers was named the MIAC Coach of the Year.
As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the fourth annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for men's golf. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition.
MIAC Player of the Year - Tony Krogen, Saint John's University
Krogen (So., Marshall, Minn.) won the 2009 MIAC Championships at Bunker Hills, setting the tournament record by shooting three-under par 213 during the 54-hole event. He also won the Saint John's Spring Invitational with a three-under par total during that 54-hole meet. Krogen leads the MIAC and the entire Central Region with a 73.06 stroke average. He has five top eight finishes in eight events this season.
MIAC Freshman of the Year - Mark Giorgi, Saint John's University
Giorgi (Fy., Red Wing, Minn.) played every varsity match for the MIAC-Champion Johnnies in 2009-10. Giorgi tied for medalist honors at the Twin Cities Classic by shooting a 69 at the Links at Northfork. He has five top-five finishes and seven top-10 finishes in eight events this season. Giorgi is the #3 ranked golfer in the MIAC and the Central Region according to GolfStat with his 74.00 stroke average.
MIAC Coach of the Year - Bob Alpers, Saint John's University
Alpers has guided the Johnnies to eight MIAC titles in the last 10 years and 11 straight NCAA appearances. In October, Saint John's won the MIAC Championship by 21 strokes with a three-day total of 880. Five Johnnie golfers currently rank in the top seven of the MIAC stroke leaders. Alpers' Johnnies will participate at the 2010 NCAA Championships, beginning tomorrow in Hershey, Pa.
2009-10 All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team
Augsburg - Tim Herrmann (Fy., Belle Plaine, Minn.)
Bethel - Toby Robinson (So., Mankato, Minn./West)
Carleton - Trent Wells (Sr., Rochester, Minn./Century)
Concordia - Zach Kappes (Jr., Moorhead, Minn.)
Gustavus - A.J. Olson (Sr., White Bear Lake, Minn.)
Macalester - Daniel Kerwin (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colo./Yokohama)
Saint John’s - Ben Cahill (Jr., Grand Rapids, Minn.)
Saint Mary’s - Ryan Brodd (Sr., Woodbury, Minn./St. Thomas Academy)
St. Olaf - Billy Utter (Jr., Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata)
St. Thomas - John Young (Fy., Forest lake, Minn.)