Senior Gumbel Named Illinois Wesleyan Men’s Golf “MVP”

May 22, 2007

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Senior Ryan Gumbel has been chosen as the “Most Valuable Player” for the 2007 Illinois Wesleyan men’s golf team.

Gumbel (Champaign, Ill., Mahomet-Seymour HS), who was also the winner of the team’s “Titan Award,” finished with a 76.9 scoring average in 17 rounds and had six finishes in the top 17, including a tie for seventh at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament which earned him all-conference honors.

Sophomore Mike DeRuntz (Western Springs, Ill., Lyons Township HS) also earned all-conference honors as he finished a team-best sixth in the league tourney with a four-day score of 313. His season average was 77.4 in 17 rounds with two top five finishes and two other top 10 finishes.

IWU, who finished second in the conference tourney, made its first-ever team appearance in the NCAA Division III championships but missed the two-day cut and finished 27th. Gumbel and DeRuntz were the Titans’ low scorers in the two days with totals of 16-over par 160.

Head coach Jim Ott awarded letters to eight players, six of whom return for next season. They are, with hometowns and high schools:
SENIORS – Ryan Gumbel (Champaign, Ill., Mahomet-Seymour HS); Drew Kepple (Tremont, Ill., HS).
JUNIOR – Mark Niemann (Quincy, Ill., Notre Dame HS).
SOPHOMORES – Bennett Blakeman (Burr Ridge, Ill., Lyons Township HS); Nick Cuca (Arlington Heights, Ill., Rolling Meadows HS); Mike DeRuntz (Western Springs, Ill., Lyons Township HS); Michael Hasselbring (Bloomington, Tri-Valley HS).
FRESHMAN – Doug Keller (Manteno, Ill., Kankakee Bishop McNamara HS).

CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206