Ekert Sparks Spiders on Final Day in Chapel Hill

Saturday, April 12

Chapel Hill, NC

8:45 AM

University of Richmond

Tar Heel Intercollegiate

Cole Ekert leans on his driver following a tee shot

04/13/2025 | Men's Golf

Results

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Senior Cole Ekert made a late eagle to card a 2-under 68 as three Spiders shot even-par or better in Sunday's final round at the Tar Heel Intercollegiate, something no Spider accomplished in Rounds 1 & 2 Saturday. With Ekert and sophomores Quin Polin and Jack LaPiana (even-par 70s) leading the way, Richmond combined for a team score of 2-over par to climb to 10th place on the 14-team leaderboard, finishing the event at 27 strokes over par (867).

The Spiders entered the day in 13th place but moved in front of in front of Stetson and Atlantic 10 rivals Davidson and VCU Sunday as they posted the fourth-lowest team score in Round 3. Six of the nine teams to finish in front of Richmond are ranked in the top 100 nationally, including host and tournament champion (1-under 839) North Carolina.

"It was a solid day for the crew. We moved up a few spots and beat the other A-10 teams. We need to find some momentum from today and carry it into Orlando in a week," said Ekert, referring to the A-10 Championship at Evermore Resort in Orlando on April 22-24.

Ekert started his round on the 10th tee at Finley Golf Club Sunday. He opened with bogeys on three of his first five holes and was 1-over par as he moved onto the front 9. Ekert made a birdie 3 on the 508-yard 5th hole — the most difficult hole on the course — to get back to even par. On the par-5, 519-yard 8th hole, Ekert made another 3, this time for eagle.

"I hit a solid drive and had 224 in from the fairway," said Ekert. "The eighth green is really firm and runs front to back so you need a higher, softer shot if you want the ball to stop relatively close to the hole. Today was a front pin and I hit a solid four iron that landed on the front edge and rolled out to about 15 feet. I was able to get the putt to drop which was a nice feeling too."

Ekert's round of 2-under moved him to 5-over (215) for the event. He leaped 25 spots on the individual leaderboard on Sunday, finishing in a tie for 22nd place. It was his team-leading seventh top-25 finish of the season.

Polin also placed in the top 30, tying for 29th at 6-over par (216). His 11 birdies during the event led all Spiders.

LaPiana tied for 45th at 9-over par (219), two shots in front of freshman Carson Baez, who tied for 56th at 11-over (221).

Senior Patrick Isztwan tied for 68th at 16-over par (226).

After being tightly grouped for much of the tournament, UR (+27) moved in front of both Davidson (+33, 11th) and VCU (+39, 14th) Sunday in a battle of the top three teams in this season's Atlantic 10 Preseason Men's Golf Poll.

The trio will be among the leading contenders in next week's Atlantic 10 Championship, which will be played on the Grand Cypress Course at Evermore Resort from April 22-24.