Hope College golfer Winton Munch has been named to the NCAA Division III All-Freshmen Team by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
For being selected, Munch also became one of six finalists for the Phil Mickelson Award given by the Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation to the most outstanding freshman in Division III men’s golf.
Munch, a freshman from Traverse City, Michigan (Central HS), also was chosen to the Division III PING All-Region Teams. He was one of 15 golfers from the Great Lakes Region honored.
Munch is the third Hope golfer to make the all-freshmen team. In 1999, Eric Wohlfield was named Softspikes Freshman of the Year. In 2004, Tommy Yamaoka also made the all-freshmen team.
Munch helped the Flying Dutchmen qualify for the NCAA Division III Tournament this month and match their second-highest finish at nationals with a 17th-place effort.
Munch averaged 74.9 strokes per 18 holes for 16 events this season, including a 3-over-par, 36-hole effort at the NCAA Division III Championship that tied for 29th in the individual standings.
Munch was the MIAA Medalist last fall. He averaged 74.1 over seven league jamborees — a half-stroke better than the nearest competitor.
It is the 17th time a Hope golfer claimed league MVP honors and 13th time in 16 seasons. The last Hope freshman to accomplish the feat was Tommy Yamaoka in 2004.