After overcoming the obstacle of their sport nearly getting eliminated to win both Big Ten and NCAA Championships in 2002, the Minnesota men's golf team entered the 2002-03 season breathing a little easier. The Golden Gophers had shown the national golf scene what they could achieve; now they needed to prove that their success on the links was not a fluke.

With the return of all five competitors from the national title-winning team in Matt Anderson, David Morgan, Simon Nash, Wilhelm Schauman and Justin Smith, Minnesota began its season Sept. 3 in Fukushima, Japan. The Gophers were just one of four American collegiate teams invited to compete against seven Japanese collegiate teams for the Topy Cup. Minnesota placed fifth in the event, the second highest finish for a U.S. team.

The Gophers previewed the postseason tournament courses in their next two events. They fired a season-low team score of 844 (-8) at the Northern Collegiate to take second place on the Indiana University Golf Course, site of the 2003 Big Ten Championships. Minnesota followed that tournament with an eighth place finish in Stillwater, Okla., on the tough Karsten Creek Golf Course, where teams would compete in the NCAA Championships.

The team then posted their first victory of the year, defeating UNC-Wilmington in a playoff to win the Landfall Tradition, with Smith and Anderson tying for medalist honors. The team concluded its fall season at the Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship where they bowed out after two matches.

Minnesota launched its spring season with its highest finish ever at the Puerto Rico Classic as they tied for second out of 18 teams. The team then hit a rough patch in their schedule where they did not finish higher than eighth in three consecutive tournaments. The Gophers collected themselves before their last regular-season event. They completed the Fossum/TaylorMade Invitational with a third-place finish, with Anderson and Smith both placing in the top-10. It was the final tournament before the Big Ten Championships and Minnesota felt they had found their groove again.

After surprising the conference with a come-from-behind win in 2002, the Golden Gophers looked to capture back-to-back Big Ten titles. Throughout the tournament, Minnesota landed in either second or third place after completing their rounds. After two days, the Gophers carded rounds of 283-282-280 to sit six strokes back from leader Illinois. It was the same position as the year before behind the same team. The results of the final round would prove identical. Minnesota won its second consecutive Big Ten Championship with a final round of 7-under 277 to defeat Illinois by six shots. Senior Matt Anderson captured the Individual title, the first Gopher to do so since John Harris in 1972.

The following week, Minnesota earned a fifth seed in the NCAA Central Regional, hosted by Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan. Although the Gophers at one point found themselves second to last in the event, they continued to battle. Riding the steady play of junior David Morgan and his three rounds of even-par 72, Minnesota worked its way up the leaderboard to finish seventh at 6-over 870 and earn the opportunity to defend its national crown in the Gophers' sixth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance.

The team's return to Karsten Creek Golf Course turned out to be challenging and frustrating. The course played difficult, with only one team posting a round under par the entire four-day event. Morgan again led the team, posting the lowest Gopher round of the event at even-par 72. Minnesota carded team scores of 305-309-306, but would not be allowed the chance to mount a comeback like they did in 2002. After 54-holes, the NCAA decided to make a cut, allowing the top-18 teams to complete the tournament. Minnesota was in 19th place when the cut was made - one stroke from being able to finish the event.

Although the men's golf team was disappointed in the results at the NCAA Championships, they had achieved their goal of proving that the success in 2002 was not by chance. In 2003, they assured the national golf scene that the University of Minnesota was a team out there to challenge the competition. They made school history by winning consecutive Big Ten titles, along with Matt Anderson taking the conference individual title. Simon Nash and Justin Smith both earned honorable mention All-America, while Anderson was recognized as an All-America Scholar. The three were also named All-Big Ten as well as Brad James earning conference Coach of the Year honors in only his second season. The men's golf team has overcome obstacles to reach the top, and is now out to maintain Minnesota's place as a national contender.

After overcoming the obstacle of their sport nearly getting eliminated to win both Big Ten and NCAA Championships in 2002, the Minnesota men's golf team entered the 2002-03 season breathing a little easier. The Golden Gophers had shown the national golf scene what they could achieve; now they needed to prove that their success on the links was not a fluke.

With the return of all five competitors from the national title-winning team in Matt Anderson, David Morgan, Simon Nash, Wilhelm Schauman and Justin Smith, Minnesota began its season Sept. 3 in Fukushima, Japan. The Gophers were just one of four American collegiate teams invited to compete against seven Japanese collegiate teams for the Topy Cup. Minnesota placed fifth in the event, the second highest finish for a U.S. team.

The Gophers previewed the postseason tournament courses in their next two events. They fired a season-low team score of 844 (-8) at the Northern Collegiate to take second place on the Indiana University Golf Course, site of the 2003 Big Ten Championships. Minnesota followed that tournament with an eighth place finish in Stillwater, Okla., on the tough Karsten Creek Golf Course, where teams would compete in the NCAA Championships.

The team then posted their first victory of the year, defeating UNC-Wilmington in a playoff to win the Landfall Tradition, with Smith and Anderson tying for medalist honors. The team concluded its fall season at the Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship where they bowed out after two matches.

Minnesota launched its spring season with its highest finish ever at the Puerto Rico Classic as they tied for second out of 18 teams. The team then hit a rough patch in their schedule where they did not finish higher than eighth in three consecutive tournaments. The Gophers collected themselves before their last regular-season event. They completed the Fossum/TaylorMade Invitational with a third-place finish, with Anderson and Smith both placing in the top-10. It was the final tournament before the Big Ten Championships and Minnesota felt they had found their groove again.

After surprising the conference with a come-from-behind win in 2002, the Golden Gophers looked to capture back-to-back Big Ten titles. Throughout the tournament, Minnesota landed in either second or third place after completing their rounds. After two days, the Gophers carded rounds of 283-282-280 to sit six strokes back from leader Illinois. It was the same position as the year before behind the same team. The results of the final round would prove identical. Minnesota won its second consecutive Big Ten Championship with a final round of 7-under 277 to defeat Illinois by six shots. Senior Matt Anderson captured the Individual title, the first Gopher to do so since John Harris in 1972.

The following week, Minnesota earned a fifth seed in the NCAA Central Regional, hosted by Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan. Although the Gophers at one point found themselves second to last in the event, they continued to battle. Riding the steady play of junior David Morgan and his three rounds of even-par 72, Minnesota worked its way up the leaderboard to finish seventh at 6-over 870 and earn the opportunity to defend its national crown in the Gophers' sixth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance.

The team's return to Karsten Creek Golf Course turned out to be challenging and frustrating. The course played difficult, with only one team posting a round under par the entire four-day event. Morgan again led the team, posting the lowest Gopher round of the event at even-par 72. Minnesota carded team scores of 305-309-306, but would not be allowed the chance to mount a comeback like they did in 2002. After 54-holes, the NCAA decided to make a cut, allowing the top-18 teams to complete the tournament. Minnesota was in 19th place when the cut was made - one stroke from being able to finish the event.

Although the men's golf team was disappointed in the results at the NCAA Championships, they had achieved their goal of proving that the success in 2002 was not by chance. In 2003, they assured the national golf scene that the University of Minnesota was a team out there to challenge the competition. They made school history by winning consecutive Big Ten titles, along with Matt Anderson taking the conference individual title. Simon Nash and Justin Smith both earned honorable mention All-America, while Anderson was recognized as an All-America Scholar. The three were also named All-Big Ten as well as Brad James earning conference Coach of the Year honors in only his second season. The men's golf team has overcome obstacles to reach the top, and is now out to maintain Minnesota's place as a national contender.