Green Named Illinois Wesleyan Men’s Golf “MVP”

June 19, 2008

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Junior Chris Green has been chosen as the “Most Valuable Player” for the 2008 Illinois Wesleyan men’s golf team.

Green (Cary, Ill., Cary-Grove HS) finished second in the national NCAA Division III men’s golf championships and was one of 11 players named to the first team of the PING All-American team chosen by members of the Golf Coaches Association of America. Green had a season scoring average of 75.0 in 22 rounds with three top five finishes.

Making its second straight national tournament appearance, the IWU team tied for 12th in the four-day event in May in Braselton, Ga., and won the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament.

Junior Bennett Blakeman (Burr Ridge, Ill., Lyons Township) tied for 33rd in the national tournament with a 304 total after a final day score of 80. Other IWU placers were sophomore Matt Wennmaker [Oregon, Ill., HS] (tie-103, 321 total), junior Mike DeRuntz [Western Springs, Ill., Lyons Township] (109th place, 325 total) and sophomore Doug Keller [Manteno, Ill., Bishop McNamara HS] (tie-113, 329 total).

In addition, DeRuntz and Wennmaker were among the 12 golfers chosen to the PING all-Central region team. DeRuntz had a 76.1 average in 22 rounds, and Wennmaker averaged 75.8 in 22 rounds this season.

Green and Wennmaker were joined by Blakeman as members of the all-CCIW squad based on their top 10 finish in the conference tourney.

Head coach Jim Ott awarded letters to eight players, six of whom return for next season. They are, with hometowns and high schools:

SENIORS – Mark Niemann (Quincy, Ill., Notre Dame HS); Alex Warner (West Dundee, Ill., Crown HS).

JUNIORS – Bennett Blakeman (Burr Ridge, Ill., Lyons Township HS); Mike DeRuntz (Western Springs, Ill., Lyons Township HS); Chris Green (Cary, Cary-Grove HS).

SOPHOMORES – Doug Keller (Manteno, Ill., Kankakee Bishop McNamara HS); Matt Wennmaker (Oregon, Ill., HS).

FRESHMAN – Ryan Dorner (Glenview, Ill., Glenbrook South HS).

CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206