The Valparaiso University men's golf team gathered last week to celebrate the 2025-2026 season, including the announcement of the team awards for this year. Redshirt junior Ryan Somerville (Aurora, Ontario / Aurora) was named the team's Most Valuable Player, while freshman Charlie Davenport (Clarendon Hills, Ill. / Benet Academy) earned the team's Rookie of the Year Honor.
 
In addition, sophomore Rob Politza (Lemont, Ill. / Lemont Township) took home a pair of honors as he received the team's Most-Improved Player Award and Performance of the Year Award.
 
Somerville played in all 11 tournaments, compiling a season scoring average of 74.24. He carded a low round of 70 (-2) in the third round of the Hawkeye Invitational. Davenport played in four events and posted a 75.36 scoring average. His low round of 68 (-2) came in the second round of the Put Me In Coach Invite.
 
Politza played in 20 more rounds than he did as a freshman, improving his scoring average by 1.85 strokes per round. His scoring average of 74.93 included the low-round of 66 (-5) in the third round of the MVC Championship, which helped him earn the Performance of the Year nod. He had seven birdies in the round on his way to tying for the lowest Round-3 score in the field.
 
In addition, the team used this postseason gathering as an opportunity to celebrate the ongoing career of head coach Dave Gring, who just completed his 15^th season leading the program. Click here to view a video tribute to Coach Gring from assistant coach Ron Gring.