Sunday, February 16
Goodyear, AZ
9:45 AM
University of Richmond
vs
Loyola Intercollegiate
Photo by: Darryl Webb
Spiders Post Lowest Score in Program History in Dominant Win at Loyola Intercollegiate
02/18/2025 | Men's Golf
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — For a third straight day, the Richmond Spiders men's golf team overwhelmed the 19-team field at the Loyola Intercollegiate Tuesday, coasting to a 10-shot win with a team score of 29-under par, the lowest tournament score in program history by a five-shot margin. The win is Richmond's first since the 2024 Any Given Tuesday Collegiate and its 12th tournament title under coach Adam Decker.
"It was a great week for the guys," said Decker. "I didn't really think about the score until after it was all over. The guys did such a great job playing with the lead, making good decisions and staying present. Our goal is always to get in contention and have the privilege of feeling the pressure."
Richmond (-29) finished 10 shots in front of three teams at 19-under par: Boise State, Loyola Maryland, and Middle Tennessee. The Spiders easily broke the previous program record for lowest tournament score: 24-under par at both the 2022 VCU Shootout and the 2017 Atlantic 10 Championship.
"It feels unreal. Everyone played so steadily all week and there was never a moment where I thought we were giving away the lead. To also get the program record is such a cool bonus and all the guys deserve it so much," said senior Cole Ekert, who tied for runner-up honors at the event.
Ekert led the Spiders at 12-under par (204), tied for second among 116 players on the individual leaderboard. It was Ekert's sixth career top-two finish and his second straight in a stroke-play event after he placed second at the Monterrey Collegiate Classic in October. He finished one stroke behind his program record tournament score of 13-under par at the 2023 VCU Shootout.
Sophomore Quin Polin was close behind in seventh place at 8-under par, tied for the ninth-lowest tournament score in program history. It was Polin's third career top-10 finish and his first this season.
Freshman Carson Baez carded a 3-under 69 for the second straight day Tuesday to finish tied for 13th at 5-under par. It was Baez's fifth straight top-20 result in stroke play dating back to the Nemacolin Collegiate Invitational in October.
Junior Drew Carlin and senior Patrick Isztwan both tied for 54th at 3-over par along with three other golfers. Isztwan shot an even-par 72 to count towards Richmond's team score Tuesday and his eagle-birdie stretch on the 13th and 14th holes removed much of the drama from the team competition, padding Richmond's lead.
Playing as an individual, sophomore Jack LaPiana shot a 3-under 69 Tuesday to finish the event at 1-under par, tied for 28th. He moved up 22 spots on the individual leaderboard from Round 2 to Round 3.
"This was a total team effort," said Decker. Everyone played a part in this win, which is encouraging as we progress through the spring."
Tuesday's win was nearly Richmond's second this spring after UR placed second at The Match Play earlier this month, losing in a tie break to Ball State.
"We've put in some really good intentional and focused practice back home even despite some iffy weather and it's clearly paying off with our first two events," said Ekert. "I think we'll all enjoy a few low key weeks to keep doing some good practicing before our next event."
Richmond will return to action on March 13-15 at Sea Palms Invitational in St. Simons Island, Ga.
"It was a great week for the guys," said Decker. "I didn't really think about the score until after it was all over. The guys did such a great job playing with the lead, making good decisions and staying present. Our goal is always to get in contention and have the privilege of feeling the pressure."
Richmond (-29) finished 10 shots in front of three teams at 19-under par: Boise State, Loyola Maryland, and Middle Tennessee. The Spiders easily broke the previous program record for lowest tournament score: 24-under par at both the 2022 VCU Shootout and the 2017 Atlantic 10 Championship.
"It feels unreal. Everyone played so steadily all week and there was never a moment where I thought we were giving away the lead. To also get the program record is such a cool bonus and all the guys deserve it so much," said senior Cole Ekert, who tied for runner-up honors at the event.
Ekert led the Spiders at 12-under par (204), tied for second among 116 players on the individual leaderboard. It was Ekert's sixth career top-two finish and his second straight in a stroke-play event after he placed second at the Monterrey Collegiate Classic in October. He finished one stroke behind his program record tournament score of 13-under par at the 2023 VCU Shootout.
Sophomore Quin Polin was close behind in seventh place at 8-under par, tied for the ninth-lowest tournament score in program history. It was Polin's third career top-10 finish and his first this season.
Freshman Carson Baez carded a 3-under 69 for the second straight day Tuesday to finish tied for 13th at 5-under par. It was Baez's fifth straight top-20 result in stroke play dating back to the Nemacolin Collegiate Invitational in October.
Junior Drew Carlin and senior Patrick Isztwan both tied for 54th at 3-over par along with three other golfers. Isztwan shot an even-par 72 to count towards Richmond's team score Tuesday and his eagle-birdie stretch on the 13th and 14th holes removed much of the drama from the team competition, padding Richmond's lead.
Playing as an individual, sophomore Jack LaPiana shot a 3-under 69 Tuesday to finish the event at 1-under par, tied for 28th. He moved up 22 spots on the individual leaderboard from Round 2 to Round 3.
"This was a total team effort," said Decker. Everyone played a part in this win, which is encouraging as we progress through the spring."
Tuesday's win was nearly Richmond's second this spring after UR placed second at The Match Play earlier this month, losing in a tie break to Ball State.
"We've put in some really good intentional and focused practice back home even despite some iffy weather and it's clearly paying off with our first two events," said Ekert. "I think we'll all enjoy a few low key weeks to keep doing some good practicing before our next event."
Richmond will return to action on March 13-15 at Sea Palms Invitational in St. Simons Island, Ga.
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