BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The Concordia-St. Paul men's golf team was selected third in the nine-team NSIC Men's Golf Preseason Coaches' Poll on Thursday. 

The Golden Bears received 50 points and two first place votes. This was behind first place Winona State with 60 points and five first place votes as well as second place Bemidji State with 55 points and two first place votes. CSP was ahead of Minnesota State in fourth place with 47 points.

The team returns after placing fourth at the NSIC Championships during the 2022-23 campaign. Concordia-St. Paul finished in first place during the 2021-22 season. 

The Golden Bears finished in first place at the Bemidji Invite, Newman Invite and Minnesota State Spring Invite last season.

"We are excited to build upon last year's 3-win season. There will be opportunities for some newcomers and successful transfers to step up. We are looking forward to the process, grind and pursuit of excellence. We are ready to get to work!" said head coach Peter Maki.

Maki enters his second season as head coach after starting last season as the interim coach before being promoted on Nov. 7, 2022. 

Concordia returns all five golfers that competed in the NSIC Championships. Kurt Lambert and Brandon Sperling both return after top-10 finishes at the NSIC Championships. The team also returns Hunter Robinson who tied for 11th at the conference championships. Thomas Huettl and Ben Rasinski also return to round out the roster.

Brandon Sperling was named the athlete to watch for the Golden Bears after finishing All-NSIC First Team. Sperling finished last season tying for 25th place at the NCAA Division II Central/Midwest Region Championship. He was also named to the NCAA Division II Ping All-Central Region Team.

"We can't speak highly enough of Brandon's work ethic. He has turned himself into one of the best players in our conference through diligent & focused work on his craft. He humbly goes about his business and we are so excited to watch him build upon last year's success of being named a Ping All-Region performer. Brandon leads and sets a great example for our men's program!" Maki said.

The Golden Bears will open the season at the Bemidji State Invite on Sept. 11-12. CSP will return home to host the Maverick/Golden Bear Fall Brawl at Troy Burne Golf Course in Hudson, Wisconsin on Sept. 18-19. 

Alessandro Trenta from first place Winona State was voted by the league coaches as the NSIC Men's Golf Preseason Golfer of the Year. He is the reigning NSIC Men's Golfer and Newcomer of the Year. 

The three-round NSIC Men's Golf Championship will take place on April 19-21 at Adams Pointe Golf Club in Blue Springs, Missouri. The NCAA Division II National Championships will be held at the Orange County National Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. 

Brandon Sperling

• T-9th at NSIC Championships with a score of +8 (77-72-75)

• T-25th at the NCAA Division II Central/Midwest Region Championships with a score of +7 (74-73-73)

• NCAA Division II Ping All-Central Region Team

• 2022-23 All-NSIC First Team

• 2022-23 three-time NSIC Golfer of the Week

• Had a stroke average of 73.4 during 2022-23 season

• Two-time NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence 

• Tallied five top-10 finishes and a pair of top-3 finishes in 2022-23

• Placed second at NSIC Championships in 2021-22