M State Spartans edge Southwest Tech Chargers to Win Golf Title

M State Spartans edge Southwest Tech Chargers to Win Golf Title
The results of the 2018 Region XIII/MCAC Championships at The Legend Golf Course in Biwabik, Minnesota are in, and a familar name is on top of the leaderboard. 
 
The M State-Fergus Falls Spartans held off Southwest Wisconsin Technical College to win their eigth consecutive NJCAA Region XIII/MCAC Championship in dramatic fashion.
 
 
(Carter Justesen, M State)
 
The Spartans carded a round of 305 in day two of the compeition and collected a two day total of 613 (308-305) to claim the Championship by only two strokes. 
Southwest Tech put together a great stretch run by shooting a 300 on day two, forcing M State to withstand a late challenge to their 613 final tally. In the end, the Chargers came in with a total team score of 615 for the two-day event, just two stokes behind M State-Fergus Falls. 
(Carter Justesen, M State)
 
Individually, M State's Carter Justesen took home the medalist honors with an overall score of 149.   The tight team race was mirrored in Justesen's final run, as he won in a playoff over Southwest Tech's Ryan Pederson on the last round. 
 
Also carding strong performances were Drew Zimmerman and Trey Stendalen from Southwest Tech, shooting 151 and 153, respectively. Sam Albrecht led Mesabi Range College with a 156 in the season-ending competition. 
 
 
Upon conclusion of the event, M State-Fergus Falls skipper Jason Retzlaff was named the Region XIII Coach of the Year.  He will lead the Spartans to the 2019 NJCAA Division III Championships, to be held June 4-7 at Chautauqua Golf Club in Chautauqua, NY.
 
 
According to M State-Fergus Fall's coach Jason Retzlaff
 
"It was a tremendous day of golf with two teams that played at a very high level. We got off to a wobbly start and Southwest Tech played nothing shy of a superb round of golf.  It was probably the best round any of our teams have had to compete against in the Region tourney throughout the years. Our 7 shot lead from day 1 was gone quickly but our players didn't flinch and played some outstanding golf on the back nine.  We had numerous par saves that were simply clutch.  All five of our players made par on the 18th hole which turned out to be key."
 
Retzlaff went on to note: 
"Wyatt and Blake had outstanding rounds on day 1 and Hunter was great on day 2.  Austin Miller's back nine finish on day 2 was a big difference maker.  And a big congratulations to Carter Justesen on winning the medalist honor as he put on a ball striking clinic all day.  He drove the ball fantastic and didn't miss a shot in the 2 hole playoff."
 
"I can't say enough about how well the Southwest Tech Golf team played.  Scott Kennedy has an outstanding golf program and they played a fantastic 2 days of golf. We were very fortunate to edge them out in such a close duel.  I am thrilled that our group of young men earned the opportunity to compete at the National Tournament.  They have been a wonderful group to coach and we look forward to seeing what we can do in Chautauqua next June."
 

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About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference

The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system.  The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions.  The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.