The Crusaders' men's golf program returns many key athletes from last year's team, which registered a team average of 326.4--the second lowest in Clarke history--and shot a team season-low 307 in the final round of the MCC Championships.

"I'm excited and really looking forward to the season because I think we're going to have more depth than we've had," head coach Jerry Hanson said. "They're great guys and they're really strong academically. We have a good group of experienced players coming back. There will be a lot more competition for spots this year."

Senior Aaron Bird

Hanson welcomes back 2009 team MVP and three-time MCC honorable mention selection Aaron Bird, a senior from Cuba City, Wisconsin. Bird recorded one top-five finish in 2009 and has shot an average of 80.2 in 53 career rounds with Clarke.

Clarke also will have familiar faces back in senior Ryan Burras (Decorah, Iowa), sophomore Drew Carroll (Lanark, Ill.), junior Mark Dismang (Darien, Ill.), sophomore Lucas Grymonprez (Orion, Ill.), junior Ben Lehmkuhl (Clinton, Iowa), junior Andrew Quam (Platteville, Wis.) and junior Luke Wilson (Eldridge, Iowa).

Both Quam (82.1 career average) and Lehmkuhl (83.7 career average) posted one top-five finish each in 2009, while Quam tied Bird at 26^th overall for the team's highest finisher at the MCC Championships. Lehmkuhl shot a 77 in the Loras Fall Invite to help Clarke win the tournament.

Hanson also is excited about accomplished incoming freshman Josh Udelhofen, a Platteville, Wis., native. Udelhofen was the 2010 Wisconsin High School Player of the Year and a three-time Southwestern Wisconsin Conference Boys Golf Player of the Year. He led the Hillmen to the WIAA Regional championship, shooting a 10-under par 60-believed to be a Wisconsin state record.

Joining Udelhofen in the 2010 recruiting class are freshmen Seth Cory (Lena, Ill.), Jamie Hagen (Woodstock, Ill.) and Russell Rook (Monticello, Iowa).

The Crusaders begin their season Sept. 2 when they host the Clarke Invite at Lacoma Golf Course at 11 a.m. They also host the Clarke Classic Sept. 19-20 at Thunder Hills Country Club.