MAPLE PLAIN, Minn. – Led by a top-20 individual finish from senior Isaac Schmidt, the St. Olaf College men's golf team placed in a tie for fifth at the 54-hole Minnesota Golf Classic held on Saturday and Sunday at Pioneer Creek Golf Course.

Competing in a field that included 29 NCAA Division I golfers playing as individuals, Schmidt put together three consistent rounds of 72 (E), 74 (+2), and 73 (+1) to tie for 17th with a 54-hole score of 219 (+3). The senior's score was tied for sixth among NCAA Division III competitors for the weekend, which consisted of 18 holes on Saturday and 36 on Sunday.

As a team, St. Olaf tied for fifth out of 15 teams with a score of 904 (+40), winding up level with Saint John's University, which received votes in the Bushnell/Golfweek NCAA Division III Coaches Preseason Poll. The Oles also finished three shots ahead of UW-Eau Claire, which received votes nationally, in the team competition.

After opening with a 301 (+13) to sit eighth heading into Sunday, St. Olaf rose all the way to fourth with a second-round 292 (+4), which was the team's third-lowest round in the last decade. The Oles wrapped up the day on Sunday with a 311 (+23) to dip one spot to fifth.

For the tournament, Schmidt finished tied for 10th in par-four scoring (+1, 4.03) and carded nine birdies, four of which came in the middle round. Sophomore Ryan Herbst carded a team-high 11 birdies for the weekend and tied for 53rd (227, +11), highlighted by a one-under 71 in the first round of the day on Sunday. Herbst recorded five birdies in each of the first two rounds.

Sophomore Will Black fired an even-par 72 in the second round and ended the weekend in a tie for 62nd (230, +14). Junior Jacob Brown was six shots back of Black in a tie for 86th (236, +20), which was one shot ahead of junior Quinn Nevell and sophomore Jacob Quade, who was competing as an individual.

St. Olaf will return to action at the Frank Wrigglesworth Invitational on Sunday and Monday, Sept. 14-15 at Eau Claire Golf & Country Club.