BRAINERD &045; Dan Breuer is in. That was no surprise.

He’ll have company from his school, also no surprise. The surprise is they won’t be competing against him.

Breuer, an Albert Lea native and freshman at Riverland Community College, finished eighth in the Region XIII men’s golf tournament Tuesday to qualify for next year’s NJCAA national championships.

Riverland’s Carissa Gabrielsen and Alison Stutzman also advanced, the first women in school history to do so.

After an opening-round 78 on Monday at The Legacy near Brainerd, Breuer shot an 80 on Tuesday to finish eighth in the region. The top 10 advance to nationals. His score earned him sixth in the state tournament, conducted simultaneously with the regional.

Breuer’s top-10 showing earned him all-region honors, and his performance throughout the regular season and this week earned him all-state recognition.

Riverland’s men’s team finished seventh in the region.

Gabrielsen shot a 93 Tuesday to place fourth in the women’s division while Stutzman shot 92 and wound up sixth. The women’s team took second in the state tournament. Central Lakes won the women’s state and region championships.

All the scores were elevated because of a very tough course with tough pin placement, according to Blue Devils coach Dave Lillemon, who has qualified at least one golfer for nationals the last seven years in a row.

Breuer, Gabrielsen and Stutzman will compete in the national tournament next June.

(Contact Jim Lutgens at sports@albertleatribune.com or 379-3437.)