For Immediate Release
Saturday, April 16, 2022
NSIC Media Relations
NSIC Men’s Golfer of the Year
Ben Laffen
Sr., Sleepy Eye, Minn. / Sleepy Eye HS
Minnesota State
- Named First Team All-NSIC the past two seasons
- Over 16 rounds held a 72.6 stroke average entering the NSIC Championships
- Had four top-5 finishes during the season
- Placed first at Bemidji State Invitational (71-72--143)
- Was first at the Fall Hardrocker Invite (70-72-73--215)
- Placed 5th at Watkins Invitational (75-70--145) and at Holiday Inn Express Classic (69-71--140)
- Named NSIC Golfer of the Week three times in 2021-22
NSIC Men’s Newcomer of the Year
Brady Holland
Fr., Elk River, Minn. / Elk River HS
Winona State
- Named All-NSIC First Team as a Freshman
- Earned two top-5 finishes during the year
- Held a 73.7 average entering the NSIC Championship
- Named NSIC Golfer of the Week three times in 2021-22
NSIC Men’s Coach of the Year
Taylor Ramirez
7th Season
Concordia-St. Paul
- First Golden Bear men's golf coach to earn NSIC Coach of Year honors
- Coached three All-NSIC performers in 2021-22
- Has led the team to a second place spot in the NSIC Championships through two rounds, just four strokes off the lead with one round remaining
- Through 25 rounds, has led the team to a 303.1 season average to rank third in the NSIC, within fractions of the school record
| First Team |
Year |
School |
Hometown |
High School |
| Brandon Nelson |
Sr. |
BSU |
Litchfield, MN |
Litchfield |
| Taylor Zack |
Sr. |
CSP |
St. Michael, MN |
St. Michael Albertville |
| Connor Humble |
Sr. |
UMC |
Rosemount, MN |
Rosemount |
| Ben Laffen |
Sr. |
MSU |
Sleepy Eye |
Sleep Eye Senior |
| Abraham Elmore |
Sr. |
WSU |
Mesa, Ariz. |
Red Mountain |
| Brady Holland |
Fr. |
WSU |
Elk River, Minn. |
Elk River |
| Second Team |
Year |
School |
Hometown |
High School |
| Thomas Huettl |
Jr. |
CSP |
Lake City, MN |
Lake City |
| Brandon Sperling |
R-Fr.. |
CSP |
Lakeville, MN |
Lakeville South |
| Jack Evans |
Sr. |
USF |
Brainerd, MN |
Brainerd |
| Matthew Chandler |
Gr. |
WSU |
Chester Novia Scotia |
Chester |
| Dylan Brown |
Sr. |
WSU |
Reedsburg, Wis. |
Reedsburg |
| Matt Turner |
Jr. |
WSU |
Goodview, Minn. |
Winona |
About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a 16-team union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 25 team national championships and crowned 90 individual national champions. For additional information, visit
NorthernSun.org.
About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit
NCAA.org.
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