ST. PAUL, Minn. - Concordia University head men's and women's golf coach Matt Higgins has announced that five student-athletes, two men and three women, will join the NSIC Champion Golden Bear golf program for the 2009-10 season. He has signed two more men's golfers, C.J. Aadland (Pine City HS) and Cory Pike (Princeton, HS / Mesa Community College) to join John Potter (Woodbury HS) who signed during the early period last fall. The three women are Taylor Auman (Coon Rapids HS), Alicia Eckman (Park Center HS / Brooklyn Park, Minn.) and Laura Petterson (Lakeville North HS).
The five new golfers will have opportunities to make immediate impacts in thriving Division II golf programs. "Our women lose two players who turned our program around in Carley Paulseth and Jacquelyn Hauser," Higgins commented. He elaborated, "When someone talks about Concordia women's golf, those are the names that come to mind. They have layed the foundation for a championship program. These three new athletes will have a huge opportunity to step in and contribute to championship caliber golf here."
On the men's side, there is a similar vacancy with three four year contributors leaving the program, Matt Alford, Nick Gallaway and Lance Meyer. "Just like on the women's side, the men lose three leaders who meant a lot to the growing of this young program. But we are gaining three young men (including Potter) who all show leadership characteristics and high level of performance."
2009-10 Men Recruits
"This men's recruiting class is one of the best we've ever brought in. I'm excited to see how these young men will perform in their time at Concordia. When they join with the sophomore class from this past season, we will have a young team with a great foundation for years to come."
C.J. Aadland, Pine City HS, Pine City, Minn.
Aadland comes to Concordia after guiding his squad to a conference title this spring. A two-sport athlete, his leadership was key on the hockey team as well as the golf team. As a freshman, he was an All-Conference performer before earning All-Conference Honorable Mention honors as a sophomore. In his junior and senior seasons he captured individual conference championship honors we well as earning championship honors on his men's club team.
"C.J. is very athletic and talented and has a ton of potential. As a captain in two sports in high school, he will provide great leadership in his time here at Concordia and we are excited to work with him at the collegiate level."
Cory Pike, Mesa Community College, Princeton HS, Princeton, Minn. 
Pike has just one year of eligibility remaining as a collegiate golfer and will join CU with championship level experience, helping Mesa Community College to a third place finish at the 2008 NJCAA National Championships after helping the squad capture the NJCAA Region 1 Championship. He took second place at the Gilbert City Championship and the Chandler City Championship during the 2008 season while taking ninth at the 2009 San Tan Amateur. During his prep career at Princeton High School, he was a two-time All-Conference performer in the 2000 and 2001 seasons and earned three letters.
"Cory will come in and make an immediate impact for us. Playing in the Arizona Community College level is a high level of golf and he should have no problem making the transition to the Northern Sun and the Division II level. He has only one year of eligibility remaining so he has high expectations to contribute right away. He will provide leadership to our young program, on and off the course."
C.J. and Cory will join John Potter, (Woodbury, Minn.), a high school teammate of CU sophomore Nick Jarrett. Potter was a Suburban East Conference Champion and a three-time all-conference golfer with a +1.2 handicap.
2009-10 Women Recruits
"This is a great class and I'm excited about the potential of these girls to help continue the championship tradition of women's golf here at CU," Higgins continued. "They will have a great opportunity to step in immediately and contribute while developing their careers as student-athletes."
Taylor Auman, Coon Rapids HS, Coon Rapids, Minn.
Auman was the Individual Medalist at the Conference Championships this spring and has qualified for the 2009 MSHSL Tournament. At the Northwest Suburban Conference Championships, Auman fired an 83 at Bunker Hills, the site of the State Tournament. In her young career, she has claimed first place at over 10 junior PGA events and has served as a captain for the Cardinals for two years. She is an All-State performer and a three-time All-NW Suburban Conference selection.
"We are excited to have Taylor join the program. She is very talented and is mentally tough and doesn't let her emotions get the best of her on the course. She will step in and help us immediately and features a great short game."
Alicia Eckman, Park Center HS, Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Eckman helped lead Park Center to a 2007 Conference Championship. As an individual, she is a back-to-back MSHSL State Tournament Individual Participant, earning bids in 2008 and again in 2009.
"I'm excited that Alicia is coming to our program. She has a lot of potential and talent and has improved every year as a prep athlete. She is a strong student and will represent the University well."
Laura Petterson, Lakeville North HS, Lakeville, Minn.
Petterson has been a varsity golfer since her freshman year and is a three-year captain. On the course, she will be a three-time State Tournament competitor, tying for 18th in state as a sophomore. As a junior, she took medalist honors at the Lake Conference Championships by firing a 73 before taking fourth at the Lake Conference Championships as a senior with a 78. This spring after taking fourth at conference, she helped her team qualify for state by shooting a 156 in two days at the section championships.
"Laura will step in and contribute immediately. With two seniors leaving I expect her to fill one of those spots. She is one of the better golfers in the state this spring and is one of the best players in a very strong section and conference. She will bring leadership to our program and is a great student. Laura is a mentally strong golfer with a good short game," Higgins continued.
Auman, Eckman and Petterson join a Concordia women's golf program that captured their first NSIC Championship in 2008-09 on their way to finishing ninth in the nation at the NCAA Division II Championships. The Golden Bears took second at the NCAA Super Regional 3 as a squad in their first-ever NCAA appearance as a team. They are coached by two-time NSIC Women's Golf Coach of the Year Matt Higgins.
