Four Minnesota State men’s golfers were honored by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference for play on the links this past year.
Graduate student Ben Laffen and sophomore Max Brud were First-Team All-NSIC selections while freshman Karson Patten was a Second-Team All-NSIC choice and the league’s Newcomer of the Year. Head Coach Alex Schmitz was named the league’s Coach of the Year as well.
Ben Laffen:
A native of Sleepy Eye, Minn., Laffen led the Mavericks in scoring average this year at 71.9 – the second best scoring average in the league … Finished second at the league championships with a 72-74-67 – 213 … Laffen was a First-Team All-NSIC pick in 2023 and 2021 and was the league’s Men’s Golfer of the Year in 2022 … Was a two-time NSIC Golfer of the Week this past season … Was named to the NSIC All-Tournament Team in 2024 and 2023 … Owns a career scoring average of 73.4.
Max Brud:
A native of Waunakee, Wis., Brud averaged a 73.6 this season … Named First-Team All-Conference for the first time in his career… Was named to the NSIC All-Tournament team after winning the event with a 69-73-70—212… Owns a career scoring average of 74.4.
Karson Patten:
Patten hails from Carlton, Minn. … Averaged a 73.5 in his first season as a Maverick, playing in 20 rounds … Finished third at the NSIC Championships with a 72-74-69 – 215 … Named Second-Team All-NSIC and NSIC Newcomer of the Year … First Maverick to earn the league’s newcomer of the year award.
Alex Schmitz:
Schmitz is in his third season as men’s golf coach … Guided the Mavericks to the NSIC Championship after shooting a 286-296-276—858 – the lowest three-round total in league tournament history …. Saw three Mavericks finish 1-2-3 at the conference championships … Maverick men placed in the top five in six events this season, including victories in the Maverick Invitational (Aug. 28-29), Bemidji State Invitational (Sept. 11-12) and the NSIC Championships (April 14-21) … Seventh Maverick men’s golf coach to earn NSIC Coach of the Year honors and the first since Bryant Black did so in 2017-18.
Minnesota State travels to Edmond, Okla., May 9-11 to participate in the NCAA Central/Midwest Region Super Regional Tournament.
| NSIC Coach of the Year | |
| Coach | Year |
| Mike Zinni | 2008-09 |
| Geoff Klein | 2009-10 |
| Geoff Klein | 2011-12 |
| Bryant Black | 2014-15 |
| Bryant Black | 2016-17 |
| Bryant Black | 2017-18 |
| Alex Schmitz | 2023-24 |