Gopher Sports: Non-Rev and Bubble Nugz

Since we have dropped our what have you missed posts, and our Bubble Nugz in the last couple of weeks, we have some updates all around. So sit back and check out what you may have missed;

Fore More ...(ok really just 2) Gopher Golf Wins:

When we last left you a trio of current/former Gophers were competing in the 3M Open on the PGA Tour. Unfortunately all three Gophers, Tom Lehman, Erik Van Rooyen and Angus Flanagan all missed the cut and did not stick around to play the weekend.

However, two other current Gopher golfers did have much more success in recent tournament action. Gopher senior Thomas Longbella destroyed the field in the Wisconsin State Amateur chanpionship held at the Milwaukee Country Club. Longbella who is a Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin native was tied for second place after the first round where he shot a one under par 69. He would take the lead and never give it back after a three under par 67 in the second round. he would add a pair of 69’s (nice) in the third and final rounds to finish the tournament at 6 under par and ten strokes ahead of the second place finisher. The ten stroke margin of victory is the largest ever in the tournament. Longbella was the only golfer to go under par in all four rounds of the tournament and becomes the second Gopher to ever win the Wisconsin Am after Alex Gaugert, who won in 2014. He announced in April he will return for a super senior year next fall.

On the women’s side, Grace Curran continued her epic summer. A month after Curran won the Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Match Play Championship, she took home ser second tournament of the summer winning the Golfweek Midwest Collegiate Tournament Championships held at Kampen Golf Course on the campus of Purdue University. Curran finished the 54-hole tournament tied for first at 1-over par coming back from a four over par 76 in her opening round to card an even par 72 round in round two. Curran was five shots back headed into the final round but turned that around with a tournament best three under par 69 in the final round to clinch a playoff. It would take four extra holes, but a par on the fourth playoff hole earned Curran the win over Purdue’s Jocelyn Bruch. Fellow Gopher sophomore Emma Carpenter took home sixth place with a +10 finish.

Pro Volleyball...in the US? Hopefully

Earlier this year Athletes Unlimited Volleyball announced their intention to start a US based professional volleyball league. Previously one did not exist, if you finished your collegiate career you either trained with the US National Team or you went overseas to play professionally in a potentially exotic location. Previous Gophers have played professionally in Italy, Germany, Brazil, and the Philippines. Well this February, that changes. (All potenial COVID concerns aside). AUV is sanctioned by USA Volleyball and will feature 40 of the world’s best players playing matches in Nashville. The season will run from February 26th to April 4, 2021. Of the 40 players, three will be Minnesota Golden Gophers alums. Erica Handley, Molly Lohman and Paige Tapp will participate in the inaugural season. All three former Gophers have competed internationally previously with Handley completing fourth pro season in the Czech Republic. Tapp is returning to pro volleyball after a season recovering from injuries but has previously played in Germany and with the US National Team. Lohman has played two seasons internationally must recently in Hungary.

Bubble Updates...

Games in the NBA, WNBA and NHL bubble go on. The Minnesota Lynx moved to 3-1 in the WNBA bubble with a win over the Connecticut Sun. Rachel Banham scored four points in 15 minutes for the Lynx. The New York Liberty fell to 0-3 on the season losing to the Seattle Storm. Amanda Zahui B added 10 points in 24 minutes in the loss.

The Los Angeles Clippers picked up their first win in the bubble over he New Orleans Pelicans 126-103 on Saturday. Amir Coffey had three points in just over four minutes of action.

Three days into the NHL bubble and some Gophers are finding the scoresheet. Nate Schmidt had a big game for the Vegas Golden Knights in a round-robin win over the Dallas Stars.

Brady Skeji has his new team the Carolina Hurricanes up 2-0 in their best-of-five series against his old team the New York Rangers. Ryan Lindgren had an assist for the Rangers in Game 1, but will need to get the rest of his teammates to pick it up to avoid being the first team to leave the bubble Tuesday night.

Phil Kessel has a pair of assists to lead the Arizona Coyotes to a 4-3 Game 1 win over the Nashville Predators. Alex Goligoski also played in the game but did not record a point on two shots. Game 2 will be Tuesday afternoon.

Blake Wheeler has been kept off the scoresheet thus far as his Winnipeg Jets split the first two games with the Calgary Flames. Game 3 in that series is Tuesday evening.

Eric Haula was held off the board in his Florida Panthers 2-1 Game 1 loss to the New York Islanders and Nick Leddy who also did not record a point. Game 2 in that series in Tuesday afternoon.

Justin Holl had one shot in his Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0 Game 1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Game 2 is Tuesday afternoon.

We will keep you updates as the bubble goes on...