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Posted: Jun 13, 2023

DuPage surges to third place, four Region 4 individuals score All-American honors

(Image courtesy of NJCAA)
(Image courtesy of NJCAA)

PLYMOUTH, IND. & CHAUTAUQUA, NY - Region 4 was well represented at the NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships at Swan Lake Resort and the NJCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships at Chautauqua Golf Club. In all three teams and six individuals competed in the two tournaments, with the College of DuPage earning the top team finish and four individuals earning NJCAA All-American accolades (Division II | Division III).

At the Division II event running May 23-26, Region 4 champion Highland Community College opened with their best single-day score of 308, and followed it up with team totals of 325, 314, and 312 for a four-day total of 1,259 (+107) to place 16th out of 22 teams. The Cougars, who averaged a team score of 314.7, were one shot back of Seminole State College. Black Hawk College wound up 20th overall with a 72-hole total of 1,301 (326-320-321-334) for a 325.2 scoring average. Kirkwood Community College won the team title with an 1,168 total.

Sophomore Riku Moriyama was the top individual from Region 4 as the Highland golfer posted scores of 77-70-71-76 for a final score of 294 (+6) and a tie for 12th place. The finish earned him NJCAA Second Team All-American honors, along with Bryant & Stratton College's Lenny Oshiro. Oshiro tied for 16th at 296 (+8) after rounds of 70-75-73-78. Eddie Winkleman signed off on the best national finish in the College of Lake County's golf history with a 298 (+10) to tie for 23 and receive NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American after shooting 77-73-76-72. 

2023 NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships Final Results: Team | Individual

Other Region 4 finishers included...

  • Luke Lofgren (Black Hawk) - 301/T-30th
  • Oskar Akerlind (Highland) - 302/T-38th
  • Trey Fullmer (Bryant & Stratton) - 305/T-48th
  • Clayton Phillips (Carl Sandburg College) - 308/T-58th
  • Jake Trevino (Lake County) - 309/T-62nd
  • Mason Steinert (Black Hawk) - 322/T-95th
  • Kataro Kawasaki (Highland) - 326/T-103rd
  • Sam Spurgetis (Black Hawk) - 337/113th
  • Evan Earl (Black Hawk) - 341/115th
  • Major Chisholm (Black Hawk) - 351/118th

The Division III tournament ran June 7-10 and saw Region 4 players make some big noise. Team champion College of DuPage jumped from fifth to third during Thursday's third round as they followed up scores of 323 and 315 with a 305 and a 309 to finish in third with a 1,252 (+100) team total. The Chaparrals were 105 shots back of team champion Sandhills Community College with a tournament record 1,147 (-5).

DuPage freshman Charlie Gneiser was a NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American recipient after placing 14th with a 304 (+16) total that included rounds of 78-75-77-74. Madison College freshman Brent Schmiesing missed the cut line for All-American recognition, but hit the shot of the tournament when he sank an approach from 180-yards out for a double-eagle (aka...albatross) two on the par 5 13th hole during Wednesday's second round. 

2023 NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships Final Results: Team | Individual

Other Region 4 finishers included...

  • Brent Schmiesing (Madison) - 312/24th
  • Sam Faulhaber (DuPage) - 317/T-29th
  • Hagan Rank (DuPage) - 320/31st
  • Sam Sager (DuPage) - 321/32nd
  • Tyler Cunningham (DuPage) - 323/T-34th