Loehnis named to All-America golf team

APPLETON, Wis. -- Joe Loehnis is the first golfer in Lawrence University history to be named an All-American.

Loehnis, an Appleton native and former star at Appleton North High School, was named to the Ping All-America third team by the Golf Coaches Association of America on Friday.

"It is surprising. When you're playing at Lawrence University, you don't think about national awards," Loehnis said. "I wasn't expecting it but it's an honor."

Loehnis, a senior, put together a great final season. He won three tournaments and finished second four times. He earned all-conference honors for the third time after taking second at the Midwest Conference Championship. Loehnis lost a playoff for the top spot to Knox College's Mack Foster, who also earned third-team All-America honors.

The 2003 Midwest Conference champion put together a stroke average of 74.8 in 17 rounds as a senior and carded a career-low round of 67 at the Wartburg College Invitational.

"It doesn't change anything about how I feel about my golf season," Loehnis said of the honor. "It's nice to look back on it, and you can say your senior year you were one of the All-Americans."

Lawrence head coach Joel DePagter said this award puts Loehnis at the top among players who have teed it up for the Vikings.

"With everything he has done for the last four years, Joe has to be considered the finest player in the modern era of Lawrence golf," DePagter said. "It has been a privilege to coach Joe. Lawrence would be lucky to have another golfer with Joe's ability and passion for the game come through our doors."