Big Ten champion Gophers seeded 11th in NCAA men's golf regional

After winning the Big Ten men's golf championship over the weekend, the Gophers received an automatic spot in an NCAA regional.

But the Gophers will be only the No. 11 seed in the 13-team field at the Raleigh (N.C.) Regional May 15-17 at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course, it was announced Monday.

The top five teams there — and the low individual not on one of those teams — will advance to the NCAA championship meet May 23-28 in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Minnesota last appeared in an NCAA regional in 2009 and placed seventh.

Former Gophers men's golfer Donald Constable shot a 2-under 70 at Stillwater Country Club on Monday in a U.S. Open local qualifying event to claim co-medalist honors. Constable, of Excelsior, moves on to the sectional qualifying early next month for a spot in the U.S. Open from June 12-15 at Pinehurst, N.C.

Amateur golfers Jon Olson of Ankeny, Iowa, and Grant Dockendorf of River Falls, Wis., also carded 70s in Stillwater to advance to the next stage. A second local qualifier will be held Monday at the Wilds in Prior Lake.

Midfielder Richard Garcia, a member of Australian national team for the 2010 World Cup and 2014 World Cup qualifying, signed with Minnesota United FC.

"He has been a player that's had a great career all over the globe, and we are thrilled to add someone of his quality to our team," United coach Manny Lagos said.

"I am very excited to join Minnesota United FC with the goal to help the club secure a spot in the [North American Soccer League] Championship," Garcia said. "I have been paying close attention to the team from Australia and am pleased that the club has set a high standard, securing the full 12 points so far in the NASL spring season."

United is 4-0.

• Goalie Chase Perry of Andover was named to the North American Hockey League's first all-rookie team. He played for the Wenatchee Wild.

• Sophomore forward Riley Tufte of Blaine was the first overall pick in the USHL draft Monday. The 6-4, 200-pound Tufte, who recently committed to Minnesota Duluth, had 17 goals and 35 points for the Bengals this past season.