Cole Ekert

Members of the golf team watch Cole Ekert tee off

Cole Ekert leans on his driver following a tee shot

Cole Ekert holds a high follow-through after his tee shot

Cole Ekert holds his follow through on an approach shot

Cole Ekert stares down his putt as it approaches the hole

Cole Ekert strikes his tee shot on a par 3

Cole Ekert holds his follow-through and watches his tee shot

Cole Ekert watches his drive on the tee box

Cole Ekert stares down his approach into the green after hitting a wedge shot

Cole Ekert squats to line up a putt on the green

Cole Ekert watches his putt travel to the hole

Cole Ekert stares down his drive from the tee box.

Cole Ekert looks over his left shoulder at his tee shot from the tee box.

Photo by: Tim Cowie/Tim Cowie Photography

Weight:
null
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Chatham, N.J.
High School:
Chatham

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Graduated as Richmond's leader in career scoring average (72.03, more than one stroke better than any other Spider)
• Graduated with two lowest single-season scoring averages in program history (70.87 in 2024-25, 71.67 in 2022-23)
• Set program record for lowest tournament score (13-under 203 at 2023 VCU Shootout)
• 2-time individual medalist (2023 RedHawk Intercollegiate, 2024 Any Given Tuesday Collegiate) ... 5-time runner-up finisher
• 4-time All-Atlantic 10 selection ... first 4-time All-A-10 selection in program history ... second Spider to earn four All-Conference selections (Ken Macdonald - CAA)
• 13 top-10 finishes, 23 top-20 finishes, 44 under-par rounds

SENIOR (2024-25)
• All-Atlantic 10 selection
• Ended season first on Richmond's career scoring list with a stroke average of 72.03
• Set program record for lowest single-season scoring average (70.87)
• Led Richmond in under-par rounds (18), top-20 finishes (7) and top-10 finishes (4)
• 3-time runner-up (Atlantic 10 Championship, Loyola Intercollegiate, Monterrey Collegiate Classic)
• 12-under 204 at the Monterrey Collegiate Classic and Loyola Intercollegiate, matching the second-lowest tournament score in program history ... named A-10 Golfer of the Week following each event
• Helped Richmond to a win and a program-record score of 29-under par at the Loyola Intercollegiate in February

JUNIOR (2023-24)
• All-Atlantic 10 selection
• Ended the season first on Richmond's career scoring list with a stroke average of 72.43
• 72.10 stroke average was the lowest on the team and the third lowest in a season in program history
• Led Richmond in rounds under par (10), top-10 finishes (four) and top-20 finishes (six)
• Medalist at Any Given Tuesday Collegiate in April after shooting 70/66/136 (-8) ... Also helped the Spiders to a team win ... Named A-10 Golfer of the Week for his efforts ... Became seventh Spider ever to win multiple events
• 13-under (203) at the VCU Shootout was the lowest tournament score in program history, beating Daniel Walker's 12-under (204) at the 2013 NCAA Tallahassee Regional ... Named A-10 Golfer of the Week on September 25 for his efforts
• Opened with a career-low 65 (-7) at the VCU Shootout, matching the second-lowest round in program history
• Competed at the U.S. Amateur in Colorado ... shot 75-71/146 (+3), missing the cut to match play by three strokes
• Medalist at U.S. Amateur qualifier at Essex County Club in July (shot 68-69/137 (-5))
• Won the Mittelmark Invitational at Fenway Golf Club in May

SOPHOMORE (2022-23)
• Set a program record for lowest scoring average in a season (71.67)
• Moved into first place on Richmond's career scoring average list at 72.60
• All-Atlantic 10 selection ... joined Matt Lowe (2015-16) as the only Spiders to earn All-A10 honors as a freshman and sophomore
• Named First Team All-State by Virginia Association of Sports Information Directors (VaSID)
• The only Spider to appear in all 10 events
• Led Richmond in rounds under par (11), top-10 finishes (five) and top-20 finishes (seven)
• Finished in the top six in five of his six events during the spring season
• Tied for sixth at the Atlantic 10 Championship, shooting 72-68-77/217 (+1) ... Top Spiders finisher
• Earned co-medalist honors at RedHawk Intercollegiate, becoming the first Spider to win an event since Keegan Hoff at the 2017 Ft. Lauderdale Intercollegiate ... Shot 69-75-68/212 (-1) ... Led Richmond to a runner-up team finish
• Shot 69 (-3) in the final round at Cutter Creek Intercollegiate to jump to sixth on the final leaderboard
• Shot 66-71-66/203 (-10) at Sea Palms Invitational, tying the second-best tournament score in program history ... Tied for fifth in the event ... 66 (-5) in Rounds 1 and 3 were lowest rounds of his college career and tied for the 11th-lowest rounds in program history
• Opened his spring with a runner-up finish at the Wexford Intercollegiate at 214 (-2) ... Best individual finish for any Spider at the time since Lou Baker placed second at Golden Horseshore in 2021 ... Named A-10 Golfer of the Week for his performance on February 24
• Recorded his third straight top-25 finish dating back to last season after leading UR with a 16th-place finish at Wolfpack Intercollegiate (217, +1)
• Placed 22nd at Yale's MacDonald Cup, shooting 71-72-71/214 (+4)
• Finished at 9-under (207) at VCU Shootout, the fourth-best individual tournament score in program history ... Shot a career-best 68 (-4) in 2nd round, helping UR to a team score of 277 (-11), the fifth-best single-round score in program history ... Tied for 14th
• CSC Academic All-District selection

FRESHMAN (2021-22)
• Named Atlantic 10 All-Conference, becoming the first Richmond freshman to earn All-Conference honors since Matthew Lowe in 2015
• Appeared in 10 events and led Richmond with a scoring average of 73.63
• Three top-20 finishes were tied for second most on the team
• Tied for 23rd at Atlantic 10 Championship, shooting 73-72-74/219 (+3)
• Led all Spiders with a 220 (+7) at Rutherford Intercollegiate ... Tied for 18th to record his third top-20 finish of the season ... Won his third A-10 Rookie of the Week Award on April 22 for his performance
• Led Richmond with a 216 (+3) at Irish Creek Collegiate ... Tied for 46th
• Tied for 28th at Seahawk Intercollegiate, closing with back-to-back 73s to finish at 221 (+5)
• Shot 72-76/148 (+4) to tie for 18th at Forest Creek Collegiate, his second career top-20 tournament finish ... Named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for his effort
• Tied for 49th at Ross Collegiate Classic, shooting 75-75-78/228 (+12)
• Shot 71 (-1) to help Richmond to a win in its mtch vs Columbia
• Recorded three rounds under par in the fall, second among all Spiders
• Led the Spiders at the Grandover Collegiate, shooting 73-71-79/223 (+7) to tie for 43rd
• Shot 74-77-71/222 (+6) at the Georgia State Invitational and tied for 48th in the field of 87 ... 71 in Round 3 was two shots better than any other Spider
• Made his collegiate debut playing as an individual at the River Run Collegiate ... Shot 71-72-77/220 (+4) and finished 15th in the field of 84 ... Named A-10 Rookie of the Week on October 1 for his performance

BEFORE RICHMOND
• 2021 Metropolitan Golf Association Junior Player of the Year
• Top-ranked boys player in New Jersey
• Two-time First Team All-State selection at Chatham High ... 2021 group state champion
• Two-time winner of state sectional, conference, and county championships
• Led Chatham to a runner-up finish at 2021 New Jersey State Championship ... Tied for 2nd among individuals with a 66 (-6)
• Shot 65 (-7) to win 2021 US Junior Amateur Sectional Qualifier ... advanced to match play at 2021 US Junior Amateur (finished T-33)
• Finished 2nd at 2021 NJ Junior Amateur and tied for 9th at 2020 NJ Amateur
• Won two US Challenge Cup championships
• Won 2020 NJPGA Junior Championship
• Runner-up at 2020 Carter Cup, the Metropolitan Golf Association's boys stroke play championship ... Finished 6th in the event in 2021 ... 3rd at 2020 MGA Met Junior
• Founded and hosted annual charity golf outing Juniors Fore Goryeb to benefit local children’s hospital, raising more than $100,000
• National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society, AJGA Scholastic Honor Roll