June 15
Mickey Stefan, a May 2005 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan, has been chosen as one of 39 national Division III Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars for the 2004-05 academic year by the Golf Coaches Association of America. Stefan had a team-best season stroke average of 76.3 for the conference champion Titans and was the only College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin representative on the Cleveland Golf squad. He had a 3.5 grade-point average as a business administration major.
To be eligible for the Cleveland All-America Scholar staus, an individual must be a junior or senior academically and competed in at least two full years at the collegiate level, participate in 70 percent of his team's competitive rounds, and a stroke average under 79.0 in Division III and maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.2. A recipient must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at his college or university.
May 24
Mickey Stefan was chosen as the “Most Valuable Player” for the Illinois Wesleyan men’s golf team. Stefan finished second in a playoff at the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin championships, won for the fifth straight year by IWU. He had a team-best season stroke average of 76.3 and was IWU’s low scorer in three meets, including the Golden Isle Invitational when he finished eighth and was named to the all-tourney team. Eric Hellman, who was limited this season to only two competitive rounds due to injury, earned the “Titan Pride Award.” IWU is the first school to win five straight CCIW men’s golf titles since Augustana won five in a row from 1978-82. Millikin won eight straight championships from 1983-90. Head coach Jim Ott awarded letters to seven players in addition to Stefan and Hellman. They are Eric Danielson, Mark Samartino, Matt Sump, Ryan Gumbel, Drew Kepple, Mark Niemann ad Alex Warner.
April 29-30
For the fifth straight year, the Illinois Wesleyan men’s golf team, coached by Jim Ott, has won the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship, held April 29-30 at Pontiac Elks Club. The Titans had a team score of 615 to top first round leader Carthage and Millikin, who tied for second at 618. Mickey Stefan had a two-day score of 148 but lost in a playoff to Millikin’s Corey Choate and finished second overall while Drew Kepple finished tied for fourth at 151 and Ryan Gumbel tied for eighth at 156. The last time a team won five straight men’s golf titles was when Millikin won eight in a row from 1983-90.
April 22-23
The Illinois Wesleyan men’s golf team finished tied for seventh in the IWU Invitational, staged April 22-23 at Normal’s Ironwood Golf Course. IWU had a team total of 618 and St. Ambrose, the team champion, had a score of 593 in the 36-hole tourney. Freshman Alex Warner carded a second-day 73 to finish at 152, tied for 14th. IWU senior Eric Danielson had a 71 Saturday for IWU’s low score of the day as Ryan Meier of Knox and Drew Chuipek of St Ambrose each fired five-under par 67s on day two and finished with medalist scores of 139.
April 15-16
The No. 15-nationally ranked Illinois Wesleyan men's golf team finished second of 20 in the Big Blue Classic, held at Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth, Ill., April 15-16. The Titans, who had the first day lead, had a team total of 594 as Millikin won the title with a score of 585. IWU's "B" team finished eighth with a 614 total. Drew Kepple tied for seventh with a score of 148 (76-72) while Mark Samartino and Mickey Stefan tied for 12th with 149 scores in the two-day event.
April 8-9
The Illinois Wesleyan men’s golf team finished fifth of 20 teams at the two-day Wartburg Spring Invitational, held at Waverly (Iowa) Country Club on Sat., April 9. The Titans’ team total of 597 while Central (Iowa) was the team champion with a 578 total. Mickey Stefan tied for 15th with a 147 while other IWU scorers and places were Eric Danielson (tied for 40th, 152), Drew Kepple and Alex Warner (tied for 44th, 153), and Ryan Gumbel (tied for 58th, 157).
April 2-3
The Illinois Wesleyan University men’s golf team finished second of 20 teams at the Loras Spring Invitational at The Meadows Golf Club in Dubuque, Iowa on Sun., April 3. St. Ambrose won the event with a team 599 score and the Titans finished at 604, lowest among the Division III schools participating. Eric Danielson and Alex Warner tied for sixth with a two-day total of 147. Other Titan scores came from Ryan Gumbel (155, tied for 31st), Drew Kepple (157, tied for 44th), and Mickey Stefan (160, tied for 60th).
March 25-26
The Illinois Wesleyan “Green” men's golf team finished second by one stoke in the Eureka Invitational at Pine Lakes Golf Course in Washington on Sat., March 26. The Titans finished with a 603 total, just behind Millikin, and IWU’s Ryan Gumbel finished with a two-day 147, just one stroke behind the individual medalist. The IWU “White” team finished in fourth place (622). Drew Kepple was sixth for the IWU Green team with a 73 Saturday to finish at 151. Other Green scorers included Mickey Stefan (74-153), Eric Danielson (75-154) and Alex Warner (73-155). White scorers were Mark Samartino (75-152), Greg Tester (72-153), Mark Niemann (80-158), Matt Sump (79-159) and Art Kastl (80-163).
March 18-20
The Illinois Wesleyan University men’s golf team finished fifth in the three-day Golden Isles Invitational, held March 18-20 at Oleander Country Club on Jekyll Island, Ga. The Titans shot 301 on the last day to finish with an 899 total, tying Washington & Lee for fifth. IWU placed higher than three of the top 10 teams and six of the top 25 in the country. Mickey Stefan, who was named to the 10-man all-tournament team, finished eighth with a 219 total. Other IWU scorers were Eric Danielson (76-224), Drew Kepple (74-226), Alex Warner (76-231) and Ryan Gumbel (84-241).
