Illinois State men's golfer
Ben Murphy has been named the recipient for the 2007 D.A. Weibring Endowed Scholarship. The junior is being honored for excellence both on the course and in the classroom.
Alongside seniors Matt Miller and Ryan Brown, Murphy asserted himself as a key contributor for the 2006-2007 Redbirds. Murphy recorded four top-20 finishes, including one top-10 and one top-five tally.
"It's a great honor to know all the hard work both on the course and in the classroom are really paying off," Murphy said. "Looking at some of the players who have won it in the past shows it is something you have to earn, not just something they hand out."
The Weibring Endowed Scholarship was created in 1994 with proceeds from the D.A. Weibring Redbird Golf Classic. The scholarship is named for the former Redbird golfer who later starred on the PGA Tour and is currently a member of the Champions Tour. The endowment rewards a Redbird golf student-athlete who excels both in academics and athletics. In 1995, it became the first athletics endowment to become fully funded at Illinois State. Murphy is the 12th different Redbird to receive the award.
Murphy, a Dunlap, Ill. native will look to lead a Redbird team that is coming of an NCAA regional appearance and Missouri Valley Conference Championship.
Head Coach Ray Kralis hopes Murphy can build off last year's success which included a career-low 66 in the final round of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
"It's been great to watch Ben as he develops and matures," Kralis said. "He has really taken on more leadership and responsibility in the last year and he is very deserving of this award."
The D.A. Weibring Endowed Scholarship is one of 16 endowed scholarships available to Illinois State student-athletes that are funded by private donors. Eight of them are already fully funded, including the Weibring Endowed Scholarship. For more information about supporting Illinois State University endowments for student-athletes, call The Redbird Club office at (309) 438-3803.
