NIACC men claims Waldorf Fall Invite title

LAKE MILLS - The NIACC men's golf team claimed the Waldorf University Fall Invitational team title with a 301 Friday at Rice Lake Golf Course.

It is the first team title for the Trojans since they claimed the Waldorf Fall Invitational on Sept. 27, 2020 at the Wedgewood Cove Golf Club in Albert Lea, Minn.

NIACC claimed the team title by two strokes over Dickinson State University, which was second with a 303. Hawkeye CC was third with a 305 and Mount Mercy University was fourth with a 316.

"It was a great victory for us (Friday)," said NIACC coach Chris Frenz, who claimed his 14th team title as coach of the Trojans dating back to the fall of 2006. "They guys have really been getting closer every tournament, even though I'm not sure they really believed they were, but we finally but it altogether teamwise to coe out with a tough 2-stroke win.

"When it's that close, obviously, everyone played a big part in the victory, but Elic Fjetland was just dialed in (Friday)."

Fjetland shot a career-best round of 69 to claim individual medalist honors. Fjetland's previous career-best round was a 74 at the Battle of Waterloo on April 14, 2023.

"We spent about two hours on the range the other day and that effort really paid off," Frenz said. "I couldn't be more happy for him to get an individual win, too."

Fjetland's individual medalist honor was the first for the NIACC men since John Doherty won was the Waldorf University Fall Invitational champion with a 71 when the Trojans won the team title in 2020.

The 69 by Fjetland was the second round in the 60s this week by a NIACC golfer. Tim Castle shot a 68 on Tuesday at the NIACC Fall Invitational. It was the sixth round in the 60s in the Frenz era, which began in the fall of 2006.

Also Friday, Castle shot 76, Mitchell Staudt shot 77, Jackson Koebernick shot 79, Anders Palmquist shot 82 and Bennett Suntken shot 92.

"Tim Castle was hit normal, steady self," Frenz said, "and Mitchell Staudt has really been playing well the last couple of weeks. It's great to see that after struggling a bit last year as a freshman.

"I also need to give Jackson Koebernick credit (Friday), too. He's really been fighting himself lately and (Friday) started out a little rough, but he made the adjustments needed and kept his head in the game. It helped us to the 2-stroke win because Anders was a little off (Friday). That's what good teams do - pick each other up."

NIACC returns to action Friday, Oct. 6 at the Hawkeye CC Redtail Invitational in Waterloo.

NIACC MEN'S LOWEST SCORING ROUNDS UNDER FRENZ (FALL 2006 -)

Jacob Urdahl 68 (RCTC Invitational) (9-13-12)

Levi Fink 68 (Day 2, NJCAA Division II National Championships, 2014)

Tim Castle 68 (NIACC Fall Invitational (9-26-23)

Ben Boerjan 69 (Grand View Shootout) (9-17-18)

Ben Boerjan 69 (Iowa Central Invitational) (4-14-19)

Elic Fjetland 69 (Waldorf Fall Invitational) (9-29-23)

NIACC MEN'S TEAM CHAMPIONS (Fall 2006-current)

2010 - NIACC Fall Invitational

2011 - NJCAA Region 11 championship

2011 - Hibbing CC Fall Invitational

2011 - RCTC Fall Invitational

2012 - Ellsworth Spring Invitational

2012 - RCTC Fall Invitational

2012 - Iowa Lakes Fall Invitational

2013 - Iowa Lakes Spring Invitational

2013 - Iowa Lakes Fall Invitational

2014 - Iowa Lakes Spring Invitational

2016 - Southwest Tech CC Fall Invitational

2018 - Iowa Wesleyan Tiger Fall Classic

2020 - Waldorf University Fall Invitational

2023 - Waldorf University Fall Invitational