Illinois Wesleyan 2005-06 Men's Golf Stories

Contact: Stew Salowitz (309) 556-3206

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April 28-29
The Illinois Wesleyan men's golf team's run of five consecutive College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championships ended as the Titans finished tied for second in the 2006 event, held April 28-29 at Pontiac Elks Club. The Titans' team score of 618 tied Millikin for second place, 10 shots behind Carthage at 608. Mark Niemann tied for fourth place with a two-day score of 152 (8-over par) and Michael Hasselbring was also among the individual top 10, tying for 10th with a score of 11-over 155. For all scores, click here.

April 21-22
The Illinois Wesleyan men's golf team finished fifth at its own tournament, held at Normal's Ironwood Golf Course April 21-22. The Titans had a two-day team score of 597 and Millikin won the event with a total of 592. IWU's Mike DeRuntz finished in a three-way tie for second with 145, one stroke off the pace of medalist Corey Choate of Millikin. Matt Sump and Michael Hasselbring finished tied for 10th with scores of 148 and Mark Niemann was tied for 14th with 149. The Titans look for their sixth straight College Conference of Illinois and Wisonsin title next weekend (April 28-29) at Pontiac Elks Club.

April 14-15
The Illinois Wesleyan men's golf team, ranked No. 24 in the latest Golf Coaches Association of America Division III poll, finished first at the Big Blue Classic in Forsyth, Ill., on April 14-15. The Titans finished with a two-day team total of 596, one shot better than Franklin College. IWU's Mike DeRuntz and Michael Hasselbring tied for fifth place with scores of 146 while Alex Warner and Matt Sump tied for 20th with totals of 151. The IWU "B" team finished 13th with a 622 total.

April 8
Illinois Wesleyan freshman Michael Hasselbring carded a 72 on the second day and finished with a score of 146, good for seventh place at the Augustana Invitational on April 7-8 at Highland Springs Golf Course in Rock Island. As a team the Titans finished third of the 18 entries, logging a 593 and behind only Carthage (583) and St. Ambrose (590). Mike DeRuntz finished tied for 11th with a 149 total and Mark Niemann tied for 17th with a 151 total. A second IWU team placed ninth in the tournament.

April 1
In a rain-shortened tournament, the Illinois Wesleyan men's golf team finished third (of 20 teams) in the Duhawk Spring Invitational, hosted by Loras College at the Asbury, Iowa Golf Course. The second day of the tourney (April 2) was cancelled due to inclement weather in Iowa. All five IWU players shot sub-80 scores, led by Mark Niemann with 74 and Mike DeRuntz with 75. Ryan Gumbel had 76, Alex Warner shot 77 and Michael Hasselbring 78 for the Titans, whose team 302 score was behind only Central (Iowa) at 294 and Wartburg at 299.

March 27
The Illinois Wesleyan men’s golf team finished ninth (of 24 teams) in the Golden Isles Invitational, played at the Oleander Golf Course in Jekyll Island, Ga., from March 24-26. The Titans’ team score was 915 and the winning school, Methodist (N.C.) had 866. Mike DeRuntz finished tied for 13th with a three-day total of 3-over par 219 and Drew Kepple carded a 1-under 71 on the final day to finish tied for 48th with a 234 total.
September 17-18
The Illinois Wesleyan men's golf team finished fourth of 21 schools in the North Country Steakhouse Golf Classic, held Sept. 17-18 at Hunters Ridge Golf Course in Marion, Iowa. Drew Kepple fired a two-day total of 147 to finish tied for 10th and shot a 3-under par 69 on the first day. Mark Niemann tied for 12th with a 148 score and Alex Warner carded a 151 to finish in a tie for 18th. The Titans' team score was 603, behind St. Ambrose (591), Grand View College (599), and Lindenwood (602).