Sept. 28, 2011

The Big Ten Conference announced today that Gopher men's golfer Robert Bell has been named Co-Big Ten Conference Player of the Week. This is the first Big Ten Conference weekly award for Bell and is the first Minnesota player to be named player of the week since Bronson La'Cassie received the conference's selection on April 7, 2007.

Bell, a redshirt junior from Pierz, Minn. (Pierz HS), collected his first career top-five finish this week in leading the Gophers to a tie for third place finish at the Fighting Irish Classic. The Gophers' finish was the highest since the 2009-10 team began the season with a third place finish at the Gopher Invitational.

Bell battled the elements in South Bend but still managed to post the lowest 54-hole scorecard of his collegiate career with a 4-over par 214. He finished the tournament with a final-round even score of 70 to tie a career low. His 4-over par score is also the lowest tournament score to par in his collegiate career.

Bell currently leads the 2011-12 Gophers with a 72.66 stroke average. He began the season with a career stroke average of 78.82.

It will be a quick turnaround for the Gophers as they head for Raleigh, North Carolina to take part in the N.C. State Invitational Oct. 3-4. Live scoring will be available via golfstat.com.