SAU Men's Golf Team Finishes Fourth at National Championships;
Chuipek First Team All-American
The St. Ambrose University Men’s Golf Team capped a great 2005-06 season with a fourth place finish at the NAIA Men’s Golf National Tournament held May 16th to 19th at Prairie Highlands Golf Club in Olathe, Kansas.
The Fighting Bee linksters finished 30 strokes behind Oklahoma City University who won their fifth national title in the last six years. Defending 2005 national champions
Johnson & Wales University of Miami, Florida, finished second, 14 shots ahead of St. Ambrose. Oklahoma Christian University was third, 13 shots ahead of St. Ambrose.
The team finish is the second best in men’s golf in school history. The Bee’s golfers best team finish is third in 2004.
Sophomore Drew Chuipek (Gilberts, IL) finished in a tie for fourth which is the best individual finish for a St. Ambrose golfer in school history. Chuipek, who was voted the Men’s Golf Player of the Year for 2005/06 in the Midwest Classic Conference, was named to the NAIA Men’s Golf All American 1st Team. He was also named to the Golf Coaches Association of America / PING All American Team which recognizes the top eight NAIA players in the nation. He was also selected to the 2006 NAIA All Tournament Team which exempts him as a player into the 2007 NAIA National Golf Championship in Plymouth, Indiana. Chuipek shot rounds of 74-72-69-73=288 (even par) for the 72 hole championship.
Junior Jimmy Marinelli (Byron, IL) finished in a tie for 22nd place. Marinelli shot rounds of 72-74-77-74=297 (+9).
Sophomore Tim Harrigan (Oak Lawn, IL) finished in a tie for 36th place. Harrigan shot rounds of 75-75-75-76=301 (+13).
Freshman Adam White (Ottumwa, IA) finished tied with Harrigan in 36th place. White shot rounds of 79-75-73-74=301 (+13).
Senior Bryan Lemkau (Muscatine, IA) finished in a tie for 84th place. Lemkau shot rounds of 77-74-86-79=316 (+28)
The future looks bright for the Fighting Bee Golf Program with the top four players all returning for action next year.