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MANKATO, Minn. — The Minnesota State men’s golf team opens its 2025-26 season at the two-day Bemidji State Invitational this Monday.
The Course: The Bemidji State Invitational will be held at the par-71 Bemidji Town and Country Club and will consist of two rounds. The 6,515 yard course features four par threes and three par fives.
Nine teams will compete in the BSU Invitational including Minnesota State, Bemidji State, Jamestown, Augustana, UMary, Concordia-St. Paul, Manitoba, Minnesota Crookston and Minot State.
NSIC Preseason Rankings: Minnesota State was picked to finish third in the NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Mavericks finished in a tie for third place at the NSIC Championships last season.
Returnees: The Minnesota State men’s golf team will see seven players return from last season’s team that finished third at the NSIC Championships a year ago, including seniors Ryan Darling, Hogan Ordal and Leo Werschay, juniors Karson Patten and Jack Schrader and sophomores Michael Johnson and Logan Peroutka.
Last season, Belka and Ordal finished in a tie for 10th (+4) in the individual standings at the NSIC Championships, while Schrader finished 14th at +5. Darling took 32nd as he finished +14 as well.
“We are really excited to have back some upper classmen leadership in Hogan, Ryan, Carson and Leo,” head coach Alex Schmitz said. “These guys have worked hard throughout the summer and early on this fall to start the season off on the right foot. We’re hoping our freshman can make a big impact early on to continue raising the bar in our program.”
Newcomers: The men’s golf team welcomes in three freshman this season, including Paul Rezko, Sam Swavely and Waii Chidtawan Wangrungwichaisri.
Head Coach Schmitz: Head Coach Alex Schmitz enters his fifth season as head coach of the Minnesota State men’s golf team. Two seasons ago, Schmitz was named the NSIC Men’s Golf Coach of the Year. He has also been named the NSIC Women’s Golf Coach of the Year for the last two seasons.
Coming Up: Minnesota State will compete in a total of six events during the fall season. Following the Bemidji State Invitational, the Mavericks will host the MSU/CSP Fall Brawl at the Troy Burne Golf Club in Hudson, Wis., on Sept. 15-16.
