U golfer has back nine of his life to lead team to first title since '07

The Gophers men's golf team is feeling pretty good this week.

Coach John Carlson's bunch won its first golf tournament in six years. It took first place at the Barnabas Health Intercollegiate in Bedminster, N.J. The Gophers won by 17 shots in a field of 15 teams.

And one golfer, Jon Trasamar, tore up the back nine at Fiddler's Elbow Country Club -- gotta like that name -- a par-72 course, 7,014 yards in length.

Trasmar, a redshirt senior from Blue Earth, Minn., shot a 6-under 66, a career best, on Monday. He had a routine 1-over 37 on the front nine, and an astounding 7-under 29 on the back with five birdies and one eagle.

Carlson called Trasamar's finish exactly what it was:"One of the finest nine holes in the history of Minnesota men's golf."

Trasmar's 36-hole total was a career-best 138, good for second place after rounds of 72 and 66. He led the field in scoring on the par 5s and par 4s, in total birdies with 12 and in eagles with two.

On Wednesday, he was named the Big Ten men's golfer of the week. An easy choice, it would seem.

The Gophers were four shots back of Temple after 18 holes but blew past the Owls the second day.

All five Gophers finished in the top eight: Alex Gaugert was fourth at 1-under 143, Jose Mendez and freshman Matt Rachey were both 1-over, tied for sixth, and Tyler Lowenstein was 2-over, tied for eighth.

* The Gophers as a team had rounds of 291 and 280 for a score of 5-under 571. Temple was next at 588 and host Seton Hall was third at 596.

* Brandon Matthews of Temple was the medalist at 137, one shot better than Trasmar.