Wilmington Finishes 3rd at NCAA Super Regional to Reach 2019 NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament
GREENSBURG, Pa. (May 13, 2019) -- Despite being one of the final teams named to the 2019 NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Super Regional Tournament, the Wilmington University men's golf team battled and finished third overall to advance to the 2019 NCAA Division II National Tournament, shooting a 302 on Saturday at the Totteridge Golf Course in Greensburg, Pa.
The top three teams advance to the 2019 NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament, which will begin on Monday, May 20 in Daniels, W.Va., at The Resort at Glade Springs. Super Regional winner Southern New Hampshire and Bentley will join the Wildcats at the national tournament.
For the tournament, the Wildcats posted rounds of 296-305-302 for a 903 (+39), four strokes off the leader in Southern New Hampshire, but seven strokes ahead of Gannon in fourth place.
Senior Ryan Rucinski led the Wildcats on the course, finishing in third overall for the tournament. He shot a 72 (E) round score on Saturday, starting the round with three birdies in the first four holes. He made the turn at one under, and then got to two-under with a birdie on the par four 10th, but bogeys on 13 and 16 brought him to even par for the day. HE shot rounds of 74-73-72 for a 219 (+3) for the tournament.
Enrique Valverde shot a 73 (+1) on Saturday, finishing the tournament in a tie for 14thoverall, improving each day with rounds of 77-76-73 for a 226 (+10). On Saturday, he eagled the par five 12th to get to one-under par and then birdied the final hole of the tournament to get complete his 73 (+1).
Braden McKay bounced back on Saturday with a 76 (+4), finishing in a tie for 22ndoverall for the tournament. He shot rounds of 72-80-76 for a 228 (+12). He had a birdie on the par four 10th to get to three-over and then sank a birdie on the par four 17th to get to four-over for his round.
Arvy Shongwe capped the Wildcats score on Saturday, shooting an 81 (+9), finishing in a tie for 84th overall for the tournament. He posted rounds of 81-82-81 for a 244 (+28), moving up six spots on Saturday. He had six pars on the front nine and then ended his round with four pars on the back nine.
Jack Dixon rounded out the Wildcats on the course on Saturday, shooting an 85 (+13) to round out his tournament with rounds of 73-76-85 for a 234 (+18). He came in a tie for 43rd overall for the tournament.
Southern New Hampshire's Matt Paradis won the tournament with a 211 (-5), shooting a 74 on Saturday to close out the win.
Three other CACC programs competed in the tournament, including Dominican College (T9th, 925, +61), Concordia College (12th, 930, +66) and Post University (16th, 948, +84).
Concordia's Minwoo Park tied for 10th in the tournament, as he shot a 223 (+7). He opened the tournament with a first round score of 74 (+2) and capped it with a one-over-par, 73, during Saturday's final round.
Hunter Wescott was Dominican's highest finisher, as he posted a 228 (+12) to finish in a tie for 22nd with a three-round total of 228. He shot an even-par, 72, during the final round over the weekend.
Post was paced by Bill Koch with a tie for 53rd with a three-round score of 236 (+20).
ABOUT THE CACC
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference composed of 14 institutions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The member institutions are Bloomfield College, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Concordia (N.Y.) College, Dominican (N.Y.) College, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University), Nyack College, Post University of Waterbury, University of the Sciences, and Wilmington University.