BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's golf team was picked to finish fifth in the 2022-23 NSIC Men's Golf Preseason Coaches' Poll released Wednesday, August 24 by the conference office. The Golden Eagles were picked five spots higher than the 2021-22 poll for their highest preseason pick in recent history for the program. The Golden Eagles had 45 individual points including one first-place vote.

The Golden Eagles were slotted nine points behind Minnesota State University in fourth place and one point ahead of Upper Iowa University in sixth place.

Minnesota Crookston is looking to build on a 2021-22 season in which they made positive moves in the right direction. The Golden Eagles finished fifth at the NSIC Men's Golf Championship last season, for their best overall finish since the 2013-14 season. Layton Bartley (So., Fargo, N.D.) finished tied for 10th at the NSIC Men's Golf Championship for the best individual finish at the NSIC Championship by a Golden Eagle since 2013-14. The Golden Eagles return six players from last year with Bartley, Keegan Poppenberg (Sr., Esko, Minn.), Cade Pederson (Sr., West Fargo, N.D.), Rory Wutzke (So., Camrose, Alberta), Matt Moroz (Sr., Edmonton, Alberta), and Devin Kucy (So., Camrose, Alberta). They also have a talented group of newcomers with Julian Nieto (Fr., Bucaramanga, Colombia), Carson Shultis (Fr., Fargo, N.D.), and Ethan Howes (Fr., Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta).

"We are coming off a very solid season last year," said Head Coach Brad Heppner. "I feel this year's team now has the experience needed to make another step forward as we played three freshmen in the conference tournament last spring. We have added three very talented freshmen to go along with our returners which I feel will make us a very competitive team this fall."

Poppenberg was picked as the team's NSIC Golfer to Watch. He averaged a 77.4 last season, including a season-low 73 at the Holiday Inn Express Classic.

"Keegan has become a very consistent player in our lineup and has lowered his scoring average in his three years he has been here at the University of Minnesota Crookston," Heppner stated. Keegan has worked hard on his game this off season and we expect him to lead the way for the Golden Eagles this fall on and off the course."

Winona State University was picked to win the NSIC with five first-place votes. Bemidji State University was selected second with two first-place votes, while Concordia University-St. Paul was picked third with two first-place votes. Minnesota State's Ben Laffen was selected as the Preseason Golfer of the Year.