SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana men's golf team will enter the tee box of the 2023 season Monday at the Bemidji State Invite in Bemidji, Minnesota. The two-day event marks the 72^nd showing of the invitational.
 
Events
Augustana has five events on its fall schedule including the season-opener in Bemidji, Minnesota. The Vikings then travel to Hudson, Wisconsin, Sept. 18-19 for the Fall Brawl hosted by Minnesota State. A mainstay on AU's schedule is the Watkins Invite hosted by Winona State Sept. 25-26. A more local event will take place Oct. 9-10 as AU competes in the USF Invitational in Larchwood, Iowa. The fall season wraps up at the prestigious Tulsa Cup hosted by Rogers State in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Oct. 23-24.
 
Preseason Poll
Winona State was tabbed as the preseason favorite within the NSIC. The Warriors are not expected to be part of the Bemidji State Invite but the host, Bemidji State, was tabbed second in the league and Concordia-St. Paul third. The Vikings were picked to finish seventh, jumping two spots from their finishing position a year ago at the NSIC Championships.
 
Will Allen
The Harrisburg, South Dakota, native led Augustana with a 76.1 stroke average last season. He finished three rounds at or under par and tallied a season-low 71 at the Hardrocker Invite and the Bemidji State Invite. He totaled five of Augustana's eight lowest scores last year. For his efforts on the course, he earned Second Team All-NSIC honors.
 
The Vikings
Head coach Mike Krsnak has an experienced roster in his second year leading the Vikings. Along with Allen, entering his third year with the program, Augustana returns Jacob Stewart, a sophomore that shot Augustana's lowest round last year. He ranked second on the team with an average of 77.9 strokes per round while Cullen Johnson, a senior, was third with 79.3 shots per round. Chase McDonald recorded 79.8 strokes while Blake Northagen, a sophomore, recorded 80.7 strokes per round.
 
Quotable
"We have our entire team returning from last year and with that, a lot more experience on our team. Last year we were a young team with three freshmen and a sophomore as part of our lineup. This year, we have a senior with those four each advancing a year," Augustana head coach Mike Krsnak.