Benson Is MIAC Meet Champion
Sophomore Gabe Benson became only the second Cobber golfer in program history to win the MIAC Championship Meet as he posted his second 69 of the 3-day tournament and earned medalist honors by a single shot.
MAPLE GROVE, Minn. (10/02/23)---Sophomore Gabe Benson became only the second Cobber golfer in program history to win the MIAC Championship Meet as he posted his second 69 of the 3-day tournament and earned medalist honors by a single shot.
Benson finished the three rounds at Rush Creek GC with a 5-under total of 211. His 211 is the lowest score by a Concordia golfer at a 3-day MIAC Meet in the program's history.
Not only did Benson shine on the individual side, he also helped the Cobbers finish in third place in the final team standings. It is the second time in the past four seasons that Concordia has posted a 3rd-place finish at the conference meet.
As a team, the Cobbers ended the meet with a score of 899 (296-298-305). The two sub-300 rounds tie the program record for most rounds under 300 at an MIAC Meet, and it is only the second time since the league went to a 3-round format in 2006 that Concordia has posted a score under 900.
Benson's success over the three days came on the Par 4s, where he led all players with a combined 5-under total. He also led the field in birdies, carding 14 throughout the tournament. Benson only made seven bogeys and one double in the 54 holes. He earned the title on Monday by coming home with only one bogey and four birdies.
Benson's win at the MIAC Championship Meet bookends his breakout fall season that saw him capture medalist honors at the season-opening Augsburg Invite, post four Top 5 finishes and lead the Cobbers in five of their six meets. He finished the year with a 72.3 average over 16 rounds, which was third lowest in the conference. Benson fired three rounds in the 60s this year with a career-best score of 66 coming in the second round of the Augsburg Invite.
Sophomore Jayce Johnson and freshman Jack Hanson were the team's No.2 and No.3 finishers at the conference meet. Both players posted scores of 232 and finished in a tie for 25th place.
Johnson opened with a pair of 76s over the weekend and then came home with an 80 on Monday. His total of 232 was three shots clear of his score at last year's meet. Johnson was the most consistent of the five CC players over the three days. He recorded a team-high 33 pars over the 54 holes.
Johnson ends his fall with a 76.4 average over his 16 rounds. That mark is the third lowest on the squad.
Hanson felt the nerves in the first round of his first collegiate conference meet as he started the tournament with an 82. He rebounded with a 2-over 74 on Sunday and then ended the meet with a 76. Hanson carded nine birdies over the three days, tied for eighth most among the 45 competitors.
Hanson ends his first fall of college competition with a 76.6 average – fourth best for CC. Hanson posted the other individual event win for Concordia when he claimed the title at the Jamestown Fall Classic.
Sam Henke and Mason Plante were the final two members of the Cobber crew at the conference meet. Henke posted a 3-round score of 235, while Plante was two shots behind at 237.
Henke was in the No.2 spot for the Cobbers heading into Monday's final round after carding rounds of 76 and 75, but then fired an 84 and finished in a tie for 31st place.
Henke ends his senior fall season as the team's No.2 scoring leader. He had an average of 75.9 over 16 rounds and had a pair of Top 5 finishes.
Like Henke, Plante had early success. He opened with a 75 but then recorded a score of 82 on Sunday and finished with an 80.
Cobber MIAC Meet Individual Champions
2023 - Gabe Benson
2010 - Andrew Whitchurch
