Saint Xavier University - News

[Men's Golf] Saint Xavier�s Bahnick Named CCAC Men�s Golfer of the Week

Rob Huizenga — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:25:00 -0600

Joliet, Ill. – Saint Xavier University sophomore Kyle Bahnick (Inverness, England/Carthage College/Palatine-Fremd) became the first Cougar to ever claim Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Men's Golfer of the Week honors, which were announced late Wednesday. Bahnick won the individually-scored Purdue University-North Central (Ind.) Spring Shootout on Monday, April 15, with a round of 72 at the Briar Leaf Golf Club in LaPorte, Ind. A total of 41 golfers competed at the event, the team's only competition of the week.

[Men's Golf] SXU Third at CCAC Golf Championship; Three Named All-CCAC

Rob Huizenga — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:45:00 -0600

Crete, Ill. – Ending the program's first season of competition in a big way, the Saint Xavier University men's golf team finished third overall out of the 11 teams competing at the 2013 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Golf Championship earlier this week at the Balmoral Woods Country Club in Crete, Ill. In addition, SXU had three of its golfers named to the 2013 All-CCAC Men's Golf Teams with junior Kirby Brown (West Des Moines, Iowa/Kirkwood CC/Valley) earning first-team recognition and juniors James Kerr (Solihull, England/Western Texas/Arch Bishop Ilsley) and Brendan Ryan (Alsip, Ill./Moraine Valley CC/Shepard) claiming second team honors. The Cougars shot a combined team score of 609 over the two-day event (301, 308) just five strokes behind conference champion, University of St. Francis (Ill.). Brown finished second overall in the field of 54 golfers shooting an impressive two-day score of 148 (71, 77).

[Men's Golf] Saint Xavier�s Bahnick Wins Purdue-North Central Spring Shootout

Rob Huizenga — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:45:00 -0600

LaPorte, Ind. – A first-place finish by sophomore Kyle Bahnick (Inverness, England/Carthage College/Palatine-Fremd) highlighted the Saint Xavier University men's golf team's performance at the Purdue University-North Central Spring Shootout Monday at the Briar Leaf Golf Club in LaPorte, Ind. No team scores were recorded for the Shootout, but SXU had three finishers score in the top five individually, including Bahnick's first-place score of 72, out of a field of 41 golfers. Junior Brendan Ryan (Alsip, Ill./Moraine Valley CC/Shepard) and freshman Zack Trent (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) also finished among the top five. Both players tied for fourth place individually with scores of 75.

[Men's Golf] Saint Xavier Men's Golf Sets Team Score Record; Finishes Second at Invite

Rob Huizenga — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:10:00 -0600

Joliet, Ill. - Setting a new school-record team score of 284 in the process, the Saint Xavier University men's golf team went stroke-for-stroke with Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) host University of St. Francis (Ill.) Tuesday at its Spring Invite and came up just short of the top spot in the field of 12 teams at Inwood Golf Course in Joliet, Ill. The host Fighting Saints won the Invite with a combined score of 281, a school record team score for their program as well. SXU finished in front of a number of other conference foes at the Invite, including Olivet Nazarene University (5th-308), Calumet College of St. Joseph (7th-309), Trinity Christian College (7th-309) and Purdue University-North Central (11th-320).

[Men's Golf] Kirby Shoots 73; SXU Men's Golf Finishes Second at Olivet Spring Invite

Rob Huizenga — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:15:00 -0600

Crete, Ill. - Shooting an impressive round of 73, junior Kirby Brown (West Des Moines, Iowa/Kirkwood CC/Valley) led the Saint Xavier University men's golf team to a second-place team finish out of the 11 teams competing at Wednesday's Olivet Nazarene University Spring Invite at Balmoral Golf Course in Crete, Ill. The Cougars shot a 310 as a team finishing behind only Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) rival University of St. Francis (Ill.) with a 301. SXU finished ahead of a number of conference foes in the Invite, including Calumet College of St. Joseph (3rd-314), Trinity Christian College (5th-318), host Olivet Nazarene University (6th-320), Roosevelt University (7th-326), Purdue University-North Central (8th-338), Purdue University-Calumet (9th-340) and Robert Morris University (11th-354).

[Men's Golf] Saint Xavier Men�s Golf Takes Part in Two Tourneys in Arizona

Rob Huizenga — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:50:00 -0600

Phoenix, Ariz. – Behind three solid rounds by junior James Kerr (Solihull, England/Western Texas/Arch Bishop Ilsley), the Saint Xavier University men's golf team got its spring season underway last week in Arizona competing in two tournaments over SXU's "Spring Break" week. The Cougars finished seventh out of eight teams at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Spring Invite at Antelope Hills North Golf Course in Prescott, Ariz., from March 10-12 and then won a three-team tourney with Arizona Christian University and Baldwin-Wallace College (Ohio) on March 14 at Moon Valley Country Club in Phoenix. Kerr shot two rounds of 75 for a combined score of 150 to lead the team at the ERAU Spring Invite and then scored a round of 74 to lead SXU to a team score of 306 in Thursday's tourney.

[Men's Golf] Saint Xavier Men's Golf Finishes Fourth at Cougar Golf Classic

Rob Huizenga — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:55:00 -0600

CHICAGO – Leading the way with an eighth-place individual finish and a combined, two-round score of 149 (71-first round, 78-second round), junior Kirby Brown (West Des Moines, Iowa/Kirkwood CC/Valley) helped the Saint Xavier University men's golf team to a fourth-place team finish out of the nine four-year collegiate teams competing Tuesday at the Chicago State Cougar Classic presented by Swingbyte and held at Harborside International Golf Center in Chicago. The Cougars shot a team score of 298 in the first round Monday and then recorded a 313 Tuesday to finish with a combined team score of 611 for the tourney. University of Wisconsin-Green Bay won the event with a team score of 590, while Valparaiso University (Ind.) and Lewis University (Ill.) took second (594) and third place (595), respectively.

[Men's Golf] Brown Takes Third Place; SXU Men's Golf Finishes Second

Rob Huizenga — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 20:15:00 -0600

Fulton, Mo. – Finishing in third place overall with a combined, two-round score of 141 (65-first round, 76-second round), junior Kirby Brown (West Des Moines, Iowa/Kirkwood CC/Valley) led the Saint Xavier University men's golf team to a second-place team finish out of the eight-team NAIA field Tuesday at the William Woods University Fall Invitational at Tanglewood Golf Course in Fulton, Mo. The Cougars shot a team score of 295 in the first round Monday and then recorded a 294 Tuesday to finish with a combined team score of 589 for the tournament. Junior James Kerr (Solihull, England/Western Texas/Arch Bishop Ilsley) had the best round for SXU Tuesday turning in a round of 68 to tie for the lowest score of the day at the Invitational.

[Men's Golf] Brown Has Amazing First Round; SXU Men's Golf in Second Place

Rob Huizenga — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:00:00 -0600

Fulton, Mo. - Paced by an amazing first round score by junior Kirby Brown (West Des Moines, Iowa/Kirkwood CC/Valley), the Saint Xavier University men's golf team currently sits in second place after day one out of the eight teams competing at the two-day William Woods University Fall Invitational at Tanglewood Golf Course in Fulton, Mo. Birby shot a 65 in the first round, seven strokes below par for the course and fell just one stroke short of tying the course record. After the opening day of action, the Cougars turned in a team score of 295, which put them in second place in the field heading into tomorrow's final day of competition.

[Men's Golf] SXU Men's Golf Wins Olivet Nazarene University Invite

Rob Huizenga — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:30:00 -0600

Crete, Ill. – Boasting the top four individual finishers in the tournament field, the Saint Xavier University men's golf team pulled away from the pack for a convincing team victory at the two-day Olivet Nazarene University Invite earlier this week at Balmoral Woods Golf Club in Crete, Ill. The Cougars finished the tournament with a combined team score of 622 over 40 strokes better than fellow Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) member Purdue University-Calumet (Ind.) with a score of 665. Other teams competing in the six-team field included: CCAC members Purdue University-North Central (Ind.) and Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) as well as NCAA Division I Chicago State University (Ill.). Olivet Nazarene split its squad into two competing teams for the tournament.

[Men's Golf] New Saint Xavier Men's Golf Team Finishes Sixth at First Tourney

Rob Huizenga — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:00:00 -0600

Notre Dame, Ind. – Led by a nice outing from junior Kirby Brown (West Des Moines, Iowa/Kirkwood CC/Valley), the Saint Xavier University men's golf team took part in the first tournament in program history to kick off its fall season earlier this week. The Cougars played at the Holy Cross Invitational hosted by Holy Cross College (Ind.) at Warren Golf Course in Notre Dame, Ind. SXU finished sixth out of the six NAIA teams competing at the two-day tourney, which began on Monday, September 17. Brown completed the tournament with a combined score of 157 shooting a 79 in his first round Monday and following that up with a round of 78 Tuesday to finish No. 14 individually among the 38 NAIA competitors.

[Men's Golf] Mandakas Excited about SXU Men's Golf First Recruiting Class

Rob Huizenga — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:15:00 -0600

CHICAGO – The summer cannot go fast enough for first year golf coach Mike Mandakas as he anxiously awaits his first season at the helm of the newly formed Saint Xavier University men's golf team. Mandakas has already signed five new players for the 2012-13 campaign since his February hire and believes he has a team in place that will compete well in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC). The recruiting class includes: junior transfers Kirby Brown (West Des Moines, Iowa/Kirkwood Community College/Valley), Brendan Ryan (Alsip, Ill./Moraine Valley Community College/Shepard) and Dalton Stevens (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kirkwood Community College/Jefferson) as well as sophomore transfer Kyle Bahnick (Inverness, Ill./Carthage College/Fremd) and freshman Zack Trent (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township).

[Men's Golf] Mandakas to Host First Saint Xavier University Golf Showcase

Rob Huizenga — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:15:00 -0600

CHICAGO – First-year golf coach Mike Mandakas is set to host the Saint Xavier University High School/College Golf Showcase on Sunday, August 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Player's Club Chicago in Justice, Ill. The showcase, which is anticipated to become an annual event, is open to high school players from around the area. A number of collegiate golf coaches from all divisions will be in attendance to meet participants. Cost for the showcase is $30 per person and includes a bucket of range balls and lunch. The driving range and short game areas will be available for use by all registered participants.

[Men's Golf] Saint Xavier University Hires Mandakas To Lead New Golf Teams

Rob Huizenga — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:45:00 -0600

CHICAGO – Saint Xavier University recently hired Mike Mandakas as head coach of the newly formed men's and women's golf teams set to begin competition during the 2012-13 academic year. Mandakas joins the Cougar staff with over 10 years of experience as a Golf Professional around the Chicagoland area having previously worked at Olympia Fields and Medinah Country Clubs. He currently owns and manages The Players Club of Chicago, a golf learning center in Justice, Ill. Mandakas is a Class A Member of the Professional Golfers Association of America and excited about the opportunity to build the SXU golf program from the ground up.

[Men's Golf] Saint Xavier Athletics to Add Men's and Women's Golf

Rob Huizenga — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:20:00 -0600

CHICAGO – The Saint Xavier University Athletics Department will add men's and women's golf to its list of varsity sports for the 2012-13 academic year. The two new additions will bring the department's total to 15 varsity teams and two club squads (cheerleading and dance teams). Both the men's and women's golf teams will begin competition starting next fall and become members of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC). Currently, the department is taking applications for a part-time coaching position for either one of the two teams or both. Bob Hallberg, SXU's Director of Athletics, is excited about the addition and what it means to the department and University.